The Shangri-La Hotel, Wenzhou just opened in China's southern Zhejiang province. The hotel, which is situated next to the Wenzhou International Convention and Exhibition Centre, features 409 guestrooms, suites and ten serviced apartments, all with panoramic views of the river and mountains. Room amenities include complimentary Internet access, high definition TV, executive writing desk and a marble bathroom. Executive rooms have access to the Horizon and its special perks like complimentary breakfast, drinks and snacks, and use of a meeting room for two hours. Meeting facilities include a 1,700 sqm/ 18,299 sqft pillarless Grand Ballroom that accommodates 2,000 for a reception and 1,200 for a banquet, eleven function rooms and a Junior Ballroom.

The hotel's restaurants and lounges include two restaurants including the Shang Palace with a main dining room and 17 private dining rooms and a Lobby Lounge. Additional facilities include a fully equipped fitness centre, sauna, floodlit outdoor tennis court, and a heated indoor swimming pool.

Website: www.shangri-la.com

The 269-room property is close to Mumbai International Airport, Bollywood and the local domestic airport. All guest rooms are fitted with Westin’s signature features, the Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Bath. Meeting facilities include 930 sqm. /10,010 sqft of event space that includes a grand ballroom, pre-function space and 12 meeting rooms outfitted with the latest audio-visual technology. The Grand Ballroom accommodates 450 for a reception and 400-theatre style. Wireless high speed Internet is available in all event facilities. Dining venues include Indian, Italian and International restaurants plus a lounge and a pool bar that serve drinks as well as lighter fare and snacks. Additional facilities include a full service Westin Heavenly Spa, WestinWORKOUT Gym and a swimming pool.

Website: www.westin.com

The three convention bureaus surrounding Tokyo Bay in Japan have joined together to create an English language area guide for event planners and tour operators. In the last ten years, approximately one third of all international conferences coming to Japan go to the Tokyo Bay area. Now Chiba, Tokyo and Yokohama, the local convention bureaus, have created an eight-page color brochure that provides general information on the region including maps and photos of the area’s major convention centers, unique venues and places of interest. The guide also contains information on how best to hold events in Japan.

The brochure is available at JNTO offices and at major MICE trade shows around the world and from each of the three convention bureaus.

Swissôtel Nankai Osaka, a 548-room luxury property is conveniently located above the Namba Railway Station with direct train access to Kansai International Airport. The hotel’s Swiss Executive Club rooms (32 to 34) have access to the Swiss Executive Club lounge with daily complimentary breakfast, drinks and light fare. Extensive meeting facilities include one grand ballroom and 17 other multi-function rooms that accommodate from 10 to 1,400 attendees.

The property’s nine food and beverage venues include the Empress Room, which serves a special menu that includes Chinese herbs to enhance well-being and increase energy. Head Chef Leow Leong Hock created these menus. The Amrita Spa offers treatments that incorporate the use of Chinese herbs, which have been specially blended to holistically treat the body.

Website: www.swissotel.com

The Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, recently completed a RM138-million re-imaging and renovation. The property has a new façade, Horizon Club Lounge and swimming pool. The refurbished Lobby Lounge overlooks lush tropical water gardens and all of the hotel’s 662 rooms and suites have been redecorated and upgraded. Meeting facilities at the hotel include a stunning Grand Ballroom that accommodates up to 1,800 attendees and 15 function rooms. The hotel’s Business Center also has two conference rooms, three executive meeting rooms and two workstations. All conferencing facilities are outfitted with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment. The hotel’s four food and beverage outlets offer an extensive variety of local and international cuisine. Recreation facilities include the new swimming pool surrounded by lush tropical flora and a spacious sunbathing deck with a view of the Kuala Lumpur Tower and KLCC Petronas Twin Towers.

Website: www.shangri-la.com

The InterContinental Hua Hin Resort opened on 1st December. The resort is situated on the white sandy beach along Petchakasem Road in Hua Hin, Thailand. The all-suite property features 119 spacious rooms with ocean views, individual master bedrooms, living and dining areas, large bathrooms with L'Occitane brand amenities and personalized butler service. The resort has one meeting room with a capacity for 120 attendees reception style, and a boardroom that accommodates 40 delegates. Additional facilities include fine dining restaurants, infinity-edge swimming pool , the Spa InterContinental and the Techno Gym. Golf courses nearby include the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course, Thailand's first championship course, the Palm Hills Golf Resort and Country Club , and the Springfield Royal Country Club.

E-mail: rsvn@ichuahin.com
Website: www.intercontinental.com/huahin

Beginning 28th March 2010, Emirates Airlines will offer direct service to Tokyo. Flights will operate fives times a week on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Equipment to be used for this service will be a state-of-the-art Boeing 777-300ER aircraft configured in three classes of service , offering 8 First Class Private Suites, 42 Business Class seats and 304 Economy Class seats. Flights will depart Dubai at 02:50 hours and arrive at Tokyo’s Narita Airport at 17:55 hours the same day. Return flights depart Tokyo at 21:40 hours and arrive in Dubai at 04:35 hours the next day.

Presently, Emirates operates daily services to Osaka.

Website: www.emirates.com