I&MI Media Newsletter Asia-Pacific September 2008 Edition


I&MI Media Newsletter Asia-Pacific September 2008 Edition
Come and see the latest addition to our On-Line Seminars - Trinidad & Tobago Applications now open for our Hosted Buyer programs: Europe "Double Header" EIBTM Barcelona and Paris hosted by Starwood Hotels Paris Nov 30-Dec 7 I&MI Media's Leadership Summit in beautiful Puerto Rico Nov 6-9 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.

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

Applications now open for our Hosted Buyer programs:

Europe "Double Header" EIBTM Barcelona and Paris hosted by Starwood Hotels Paris Nov 30-Dec 7
I&MI Media's Leadership Summit in beautiful Puerto Rico Nov 6-9

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
CHINA: Hilton Beijing Wangfujing Opens VIETNAM: Mövenpick Hotel Saigon CHINA: Four Points by Sheraton Beijing, Haidian Hotel & Serviced Apartments Opens NEW ZEALAND.: Langham Auckland Gets Chuan Spa CHINA: Garden Hotel Suzhou Earns 5-Star Rating In The Air Singapore Voted World’s Best - Skytrax World Airline Awards 2008 Delta Air Lines: Atlanta/Mumbai CO to Shanghai	The Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB) changed it name to Business Events Sydney effective 1 September 2008. The Bureau changed its constitution and its name in a continuing effort to gain more business meetings for Sydney. SCVB Managing Director Jon Hutchison said, the name Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau did not accurately reflect the organization’s activities. “Business Events Sydney better describes what the SCVB is all about – securing a wide range of business events for our city, from association congresses to corporate meetings and incentives…” You can still access the Sydney website at www.scvb.com.au Macau’s Cotai Strip: CotaiJet has launched six overnight high-speed ferry services between Hong Kong and Taipa, the temporary ferry terminal in Macau. The additional service gives greater flexibility for visitors going to Macau for live entertainment, business and shopping at Macau’s new mega shopping centers on Cotai Strip such as the Grand Canal Shops and The Shoppes at Four Seasons. Meeting attendees in Hong Kong can easily make a quick trip to Macau. Until next time Best Helena Miele, CITE Editor electronic newsletters
CHINA: Hilton Beijing Wangfujing Opens
The Hilton Beijing Wangfujing opened last month. The 225-room property is within walking distance of all major attractions such as the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Its large guest rooms are outfitted with separate “rain tile” showers, glass enclosed WC facilities, and Victorian-style bathtubs. In-room technology includes iPod® docking stations, 42” flat screen TVs, DVD players and Hilton’s VGA plug-in cable that connects the in-room TV and the guest’s laptop. Meeting facilities include meeting rooms with the largest accommodating 220 delegates for a reception. All meeting rooms have floor to ceiling windows and are outfitted with the most sophisticated technology. A team of Conference Service professionals is on hand to assist with events. Restaurants include Vasco’s, a Macanese restaurant and Chynna. The Spa at Hilton Beijing Wangfujing has 9 treatment rooms. Other facilities available are a fitness center, glass-enclosed, temperature controlled outdoor swimming pool, relaxation deck and a serenity garden. Website: www.wangfujing.hilton.com
VIETNAM: Mövenpick Hotel Saigon
Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts opened the 5-star Mövenpick Hotel Saigon this summer. The 251-room property is ten minutes from the exhibition center and international airport and 20 minutes from the Ho Chi Minh city center. Meeting facilities include six multi-purpose function rooms accommodating from 10 to 400 delegates. There is also a business center and Wi-Fi. Mövenpick’s Meet & Dine professional event management team works with each program to assure success. Dining options include Café Saigon, an all-day-dining and buffet restaurant with live cooking stations; Nishimura, the Japanese restaurant; Lotus Court Chinese restaurant featuring Cantonese cuisine and dim sum; OJ’s coffee lounge and take-away; Mulligan’s Irish pub and Sundeck, the poolside bar. The Qi Spa adjoins the outdoor pool and fitness center. E-Mail: hotel.saigon@moevenpick.com Website: www.moevenpick-hotels.com
CHINA: Four Points by Sheraton Beijing, Haidian Hotel & Serviced Apartments Opens
Four Points By Sheraton Beijing, Haidian Hotel & Serviced Apartments opened last month. The hotel is located in Beijing’s technology Haidian District very close to Asia Pacific’s largest Shopping Mall, Golden Resources. The property has 355 guest rooms and 177 serviced apartments all outfitted with the Four Points by Sheraton Four Comfort BedTM, flat-screen TVs and high-speed Internet access. Meeting facilities comprise 1,054 sqm/11,345 sqft of space accommodating up to 850 attendees. The column-free Grand Ball seats 720 and 7 additional function rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Dining options include three restaurants and Four Point’s Simple PleasuresSM program with small meals served in the lobby Lounge throughout the day. For recreation, there is the indoor heated swimming pool, invigorating fitness center and a full-service spa. Website: www.starwoodhotels.com
NEW ZEALAND.: Langham Auckland Gets Chuan Spa
The 5-Star, 410 room property, Langham Auckland will be even more luxurious come November when the Chuan Spa opens its doors. The Spa will be 1,265 sqm/13,616 sqft in size, offer treatments based on Traditional Chinese Medicine and include six treatment rooms including two VIP dual suites with private spas, a state-of-the-art fitness center, an outdoor heated pool, his and hers saunas, steam rooms and an outdoor Jacuzzi. Langham Auckland managing director Mr John Dick said, “We aim to introduce a completely new spa experience to New Zealand. Our treatments are based on the understanding of traditional Chinese elements, with all guests offered one-on-one consultations to enable our highly skilled spa practitioners to focus re-balancing energy…” Meeting facilities at the Langham include 15 conference rooms and two ballrooms, one of which is the largest pillarless ballroom in New Zealand. Website: http://auckland.langhamhotels.co.nz
CHINA: Garden Hotel Suzhou Earns 5-Star Rating
The historic Garden Hotel Suzhou, a former state guest house and private residence of Chiang Kai-shek, has earned 5-Star status. Hotel General Manager, Catherine Chen Tie Ying said, “It was our biggest dream to transform this state guest house with 56 years of history into a 5-Star hotel.” The property is surrounded by Chinese gardens filled with rock formations, waterways, lily ponds and ancient trees. The Shanqing Buddha Hall in the garden was built by Qing Dynasty Emperor Tongzhi in 1869 and was restored during a 260 million RMB property makeover that took place last year. The hotel features 238 rooms and suites including 93 Deluxe Rooms and an Executive Floor with 60 rooms and Executive Club Lounge. The hotel features comprehensive conference facilities, a business center, two signature restaurants and a lounge, a spa and gym and a boutique. The Garden Hotel Suzhou is just 45 minutes from Hongqiao Airport and a 15 minute drive from the train and bus stations. Website: Garden Hotel Suzhou
In The Air
Singapore Voted World’s Best - Skytrax World Airline Awards 2008
Once again, Singapore Airlines received the World's Best Airline accolade in the 2008 Skytrax World Airline Awards. This is the third time in ten years that Singapore Air won this award. The carrier also received the Best Business Class award. Many Asia Pacific carriers placed in the Skytrax World Airline Awards. Cathay Pacific won 2^nd place worldwide (up from 3^rd in 2007), and also received World's Best First Class and the Best First Class Onboard Catering Award. Qantas won 3^rd place worldwide (up from 5^th in 2007) and also won for Best First Class Lounge. Thai Airways won 4^th worldwide (2^nd in 2007) and received 4^th place for Best Cabin Staff. Asiana Airlines jumped to 5^th place worldwide from 17^th place last year and came in 1^st for the World's Best Cabin Staff Award and for Best Economy Class. Malaysia Airlines ranked 6^th worldwide (as in 2007), and was runner-up for the World's best Cabin Staff. Air New Zealand won 8^th place worldwide (7^th in 2007), and also received the award for Best Airline Transpacific Skytrax surveyed over 15 million travelers worldwide over an eleven-month period for the awards. Website: www.worldairlineawards.com
Delta Air Lines: Atlanta/Mumbai
Delta Air Lines inaugurates its daily Atlanta/Mumbai service on 1 November 2008, its New York/Mumbai service will discontinue at the same time. The Atlanta/Mumbai service will be non-stop from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai. Equipment used on this route will be Delta’s newly acquired Boeing 777-200 Long Range (LR) aircraft. The cabin will be configured in two classes of service, BusinessElite and Economy with all seats outfitted with Delta’s On-Demand entertainment programs. The 777-200 LR’s technology allows for the 17 hour, 55 minute westbound non-stop leg of this journey. Delta is set to receive eight more Boeing 777-200LRs between now and 2010. With this new service, Delta will offer 78 non-stop services to international destinations from Atlanta, including recently announced or inaugurated services between Atlanta and Shanghai, London-Heathrow, Stockholm, and Kuwait City. Website: www.delta.com
CO to Shanghai
Continental Airlines will be adding daily flights to Shanghai, China on 25th March 2009, pending government approval. The flight will originate in Continental’s Cleveland hub and then fly onto CO’s New York/Newark hub where it will be non-stop to Shanghai. Seats are on sale for this route now. Equipment used on the route will be a Boeing 777-200 aircraft. The cabin will be configured in two classes of service BusinessFirst and Economy class. BusinessFirst will feature lie-flat seats and each Economy class seat will have a seatback video screen and an in-flight telephone. The Economy cabin will be configured in a 3-3-3 setting. Flying time from New York to Shanghai will be approximately 14 hours and 30 minutes in each direction. Website: www.continental.com

In This Issue

Editors Note

CHINA: Hilton Beijing Wangfujing Opens

VIETNAM: Mövenpick Hotel Saigon

CHINA: Four Points by Sheraton Beijing, Haidian Hotel & Serviced Apartments Opens

NEW ZEALAND.: Langham Auckland Gets Chuan Spa

CHINA: Garden Hotel Suzhou Earns 5-Star Rating

In The Air

Singapore Voted World’s Best - Skytrax World Airline Awards 2008

Delta Air Lines: Atlanta/Mumbai

CO to Shanghai

I&MI Media on Motivation Show

The Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB) changed it name to Business Events Sydney effective 1 September 2008. The Bureau changed its constitution and its name in a continuing effort to gain more business meetings for Sydney.
SCVB Managing Director Jon Hutchison said, the name Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau did not accurately reflect the organization’s activities. “Business Events Sydney better describes what the SCVB is all about – securing a wide range of business events for our city, from association congresses to corporate meetings and incentives…”
You can still access the Sydney website at www.scvb.com.au

Macau’s Cotai Strip: CotaiJet has launched six overnight high-speed ferry services between Hong Kong and Taipa, the temporary ferry terminal in Macau. The additional service gives greater flexibility for visitors going to Macau for live entertainment, business and shopping at Macau’s new mega shopping centers on Cotai Strip such as the Grand Canal Shops and The Shoppes at Four Seasons. Meeting attendees in Hong Kong can easily make a quick trip to Macau.

Until next time
Best

Helena Miele, CITE
Editor electronic newsletters

CHINA: Hilton Beijing Wangfujing Opens

The Hilton Beijing Wangfujing opened last month. The 225-room property is within walking distance of all major attractions such as the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Its large guest rooms are outfitted with separate “rain tile” showers, glass enclosed WC facilities, and Victorian-style bathtubs. In-room technology includes iPod® docking stations, 42” flat screen TVs, DVD players and Hilton’s VGA plug-in cable that connects the in-room TV and the guest’s laptop. Meeting facilities include meeting rooms with the largest accommodating 220 delegates for a reception. All meeting rooms have floor to ceiling windows and are outfitted with the most sophisticated technology. A team of Conference Service professionals is on hand to assist with events. Restaurants include Vasco’s, a Macanese restaurant and Chynna. The Spa at Hilton Beijing Wangfujing has 9 treatment rooms. Other facilities available are a fitness center, glass-enclosed, temperature controlled outdoor swimming pool, relaxation deck and a serenity garden.

Website: www.wangfujing.hilton.com

VIETNAM: Mövenpick Hotel Saigon

Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts opened the 5-star Mövenpick Hotel Saigon this summer. The 251-room property is ten minutes from the exhibition center and international airport and 20 minutes from the Ho Chi Minh city center. Meeting facilities include six multi-purpose function rooms accommodating from 10 to 400 delegates. There is also a business center and Wi-Fi. Mövenpick’s Meet & Dine professional event management team works with each program to assure success.
Dining options include Café Saigon, an all-day-dining and buffet restaurant with live cooking stations; Nishimura, the Japanese restaurant; Lotus Court Chinese restaurant featuring Cantonese cuisine and dim sum; OJ’s coffee lounge and take-away; Mulligan’s Irish pub and Sundeck, the poolside bar. The Qi Spa adjoins the outdoor pool and fitness center.
E-Mail: hotel.saigon@moevenpick.com

Website: www.moevenpick-hotels.com

CHINA: Four Points by Sheraton Beijing, Haidian Hotel & Serviced Apartments Opens

Four Points By Sheraton Beijing, Haidian Hotel & Serviced Apartments opened last month. The hotel is located in Beijing’s technology Haidian District very close to Asia Pacific’s largest Shopping Mall, Golden Resources. The property has 355 guest rooms and 177 serviced apartments all outfitted with the Four Points by Sheraton Four Comfort BedTM, flat-screen TVs and high-speed Internet access.
Meeting facilities comprise 1,054 sqm/11,345 sqft of space accommodating up to 850 attendees. The column-free Grand Ball seats 720 and 7 additional function rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Dining options include three restaurants and Four Point’s Simple PleasuresSM program with small meals served in the lobby Lounge throughout the day. For recreation, there is the indoor heated swimming pool, invigorating fitness center and a full-service spa.

Website: www.starwoodhotels.com

NEW ZEALAND.: Langham Auckland Gets Chuan Spa

The 5-Star, 410 room property, Langham Auckland will be even more luxurious come November when the Chuan Spa opens its doors. The Spa will be 1,265 sqm/13,616 sqft in size, offer treatments based on Traditional Chinese Medicine and include six treatment rooms including two VIP dual suites with private spas, a state-of-the-art fitness center, an outdoor heated pool, his and hers saunas, steam rooms and an outdoor Jacuzzi. Langham Auckland managing director Mr John Dick said, “We aim to introduce a completely new spa experience to New Zealand. Our treatments are based on the understanding of traditional Chinese elements, with all guests offered one-on-one consultations to enable our highly skilled spa practitioners to focus re-balancing energy…”
Meeting facilities at the Langham include 15 conference rooms and two ballrooms, one of which is the largest pillarless ballroom in New Zealand.

Website: http://auckland.langhamhotels.co.nz

CHINA: Garden Hotel Suzhou Earns 5-Star Rating

The historic Garden Hotel Suzhou, a former state guest house and private residence of Chiang Kai-shek, has earned 5-Star status. Hotel General Manager, Catherine Chen Tie Ying said, “It was our biggest dream to transform this state guest house with 56 years of history into a 5-Star hotel.”
The property is surrounded by Chinese gardens filled with rock formations, waterways, lily ponds and ancient trees. The Shanqing Buddha Hall in the garden was built by Qing Dynasty Emperor Tongzhi in 1869 and was restored during a 260 million RMB property makeover that took place last year.
The hotel features 238 rooms and suites including 93 Deluxe Rooms and an Executive Floor with 60 rooms and Executive Club Lounge. The hotel features comprehensive conference facilities, a business center, two signature restaurants and a lounge, a spa and gym and a boutique.
The Garden Hotel Suzhou is just 45 minutes from Hongqiao Airport and a 15 minute drive from the train and bus stations.

Website: Garden Hotel Suzhou

In The Air

Singapore Voted World’s Best - Skytrax World Airline Awards 2008

Once again, Singapore Airlines received the World's Best Airline accolade in the 2008 Skytrax World Airline Awards. This is the third time in ten years that Singapore Air won this award. The carrier also received the Best Business Class award. Many Asia Pacific carriers placed in the Skytrax World Airline Awards.

Cathay Pacific won 2^nd place worldwide (up from 3^rd in 2007), and also received World's Best First Class and the Best First Class Onboard Catering Award.
Qantas won 3^rd place worldwide (up from 5^th in 2007) and also won for Best First Class Lounge.
Thai Airways won 4^th worldwide (2^nd in 2007) and received 4^th place for Best Cabin Staff.
Asiana Airlines jumped to 5^th place worldwide from 17^th place last year and came in 1^st for the World's Best Cabin Staff Award and for Best Economy Class.
Malaysia Airlines ranked 6^th worldwide (as in 2007), and was runner-up for the World's best Cabin Staff.
Air New Zealand won 8^th place worldwide (7^th in 2007), and also received the award for Best Airline Transpacific

Skytrax surveyed over 15 million travelers worldwide over an eleven-month period for the awards.

Website: www.worldairlineawards.com

Delta Air Lines: Atlanta/Mumbai

Delta Air Lines inaugurates its daily Atlanta/Mumbai service on 1 November 2008, its New York/Mumbai service will discontinue at the same time.
The Atlanta/Mumbai service will be non-stop from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai. Equipment used on this route will be Delta’s newly acquired Boeing 777-200 Long Range (LR) aircraft. The cabin will be configured in two classes of service, BusinessElite and Economy with all seats outfitted with Delta’s On-Demand entertainment programs. The 777-200 LR’s technology allows for the 17 hour, 55 minute westbound non-stop leg of this journey. Delta is set to receive eight more Boeing 777-200LRs between now and 2010.
With this new service, Delta will offer 78 non-stop services to international destinations from Atlanta, including recently announced or inaugurated services between Atlanta and Shanghai, London-Heathrow, Stockholm, and Kuwait City.

Website: www.delta.com

CO to Shanghai

Continental Airlines will be adding daily flights to Shanghai, China on 25th March 2009, pending government approval. The flight will originate in Continental’s Cleveland hub and then fly onto CO’s New York/Newark hub where it will be non-stop to Shanghai. Seats are on sale for this route now.
Equipment used on the route will be a Boeing 777-200 aircraft. The cabin will be configured in two classes of service BusinessFirst and Economy class. BusinessFirst will feature lie-flat seats and each Economy class seat will have a seatback video screen and an in-flight telephone. The Economy cabin will be configured in a 3-3-3 setting. Flying time from New York to Shanghai will be approximately 14 hours and 30 minutes in each direction.

Website: www.continental.com