The Vines Resort & Country Club unveils new garden venue for MICE

Source: The Vines Resort & Country Club. The Pavilion.

The Vines Resort & Country Club has launched The Pavilion, a purpose-built garden structure at the front of the iconic resort in the Swan Valley, on the outskirts of Perth, Australia. Overlooking the golf course and gardens, the new function area, is an ideal location for conference groups' sundowners and launch events.

The open space, which has three sides open to nature and can accommodate 100 guests, complements The Barrett Lennard Room, The Boardroom, as well as the Samuel Copley and Cabernet function rooms, as event venues.

Interested?

Contact the events team at +61 8 9297 3000 or email dos at vines.com.au

Millennium Mitsui Garden Hotel Tokyo brings concept rooms to Ginza

Mitsui Fudosan has opened the Millennium Mitsui Garden Hotel Tokyo in the fashionable Ginza district last month. The hotel is the first Millennium hotel in Japan, and situated close to famous department stores and the Kabuki-za Theater.

Source: Millennium Mitsui Garden Hotel Tokyo website.

The Millennium Mitsui Garden Hotel Tokyo will is among the highest-priced hotels in the area. The hotel's exterior resembles a woven basket while the interior is designed with Asian minimalism. Special concept rooms in the hotel include the Pearl Room, designed in collaboration with Mikimoto Cosmetics Ginza, and the Hakuza Golden Foil Room, conceptualised with HAKUZA Nihonbashi. 

By collaborating with Japan's famous brands and entities with traditional craftsmanship, the hotel aims to communicate "Cool Japan" to the rest of the world.

The hotel was made possible through a partnership between the Mitsui Fudosan group and Hong Leong Group Singapore's Millennium & Copthorne Hotels. In 1972, the Mitsui Fudosan group and Hong Leong Group Singapore established a joint venture company, TID, that has developed condominium and hotel businesses in Singapore for over 40 years.

Groundbreaking ceremony completed for Jewel

Source: Singapore Changi Airport.

Jewel Changi Airport Trustee (JCAT)*, a joint venture between Changi Airport Group (CAG) and CapitaMalls Asia, the shopping mall business of CapitaLand, has broken ground for the construction of Jewel Changi Airport (Jewel), a mixed-use complex featuring attractions, retail offerings, a hotel and facilities for airport operations which will be developed in front of Terminal 1 (T1). 

Strategically located in the heart of the airport, Jewel is envisaged to be a world-class lifestyle destination that will enable the Changi air hub to capture passenger mindshare, and boost Singapore’s appeal as a stopover point for travellers. The integration of retail brands and unique dining concepts with indoor gardens and leisure attractions will provide visitors with a myriad of experiences all under one roof – making Jewel a one-of-a-kind lifestyle destination.

The groundbreaking ceremony marked the commencement of expansion works for T1, which will be carried out alongside the construction of the Jewel complex. The redevelopment of the 3.5 hectare (ha) site at T1, formerly an open-air car park, allows Changi Airport to expand the terminal’s footprint, thus increasing T1’s passenger handling capacity to 24 million passengers per annum**.

Designed by a consortium of consultants comprising Safdie Architects led by Architect Moshe Safdie, as well as Benoy and local architects RSP, Jewel will seamlessly integrate greenery amid other attractions and facilities within the same building. The complex – scheduled for completion by end of 2018 – will have five storeys above ground and five basement storeys, covering a total gross floor area of about 134,000 sq m.

In line with Singapore’s reputation as a garden city, Jewel will house one of the largest indoor collections of plants in Singapore – with about 22,000 sq m of space dedicated to landscaping throughout the complex***. One of Jewel’s centrepiece attractions will be the Forest Valley, a huge five-storey garden filled with thousands of trees, plants, ferns and shrubs. Visitors can immerse themselves in the beauty of nature within this idyllic valley of verdant landscaping and waterfalls, and can even take a hike up the valley in air-conditioned comfort.

The other centrepiece of Jewel will be the 40m high Rain Vortex, expected to be the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Additionally, the top level of Jewel will feature park space of approximately 13,000 sq m, comprising gardens, walking trails, playgrounds and dining outlets.

To strengthen Changi Airport’s appeal as a transit hub, there will be facilities in Jewel to enhance passengers’ journey. The complex will house an integrated multi-modal transport lounge offering dedicated services for fly-cruise and fly-coach passengers, such as ticketing, issuance of boarding passes and baggage transfer services. These will allow Changi to leverage new opportunities such as the growth of Singapore as a regional cruise centre. In addition, early check-in facilities in Jewel will enable passengers to check-in for their flights and deposit their luggage ahead of the regular check-in timings - providing them with added convenience.

To widen the range of accommodation options available at the airport, Jewel will offer its own hotel with approximately 130 rooms, operated by YOTEL – an international hotel brand with an established presence in Europe and the United States of America. This provides an additional choice of accommodation for transiting travellers.

The expanded T1 Arrival Hall will be seamlessly integrated with Level 1 of Jewel while the Baggage Claim Hall will also see more circulation space and the installation of additional baggage belts, operated by an upgraded baggage handling system. At the T1 Departure Hall, a revamp of the check-in counters will take place, with the incorporation of self-service kiosks. This will improve efficiency as well as optimise the space available.

Currently, only Terminals 2 and 3 are directly linked to the Changi Airport Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station. New pedestrian linkages will be constructed connecting T1 and Jewel to the MRT station, improving inter-terminal connectivity and accessibility.

Lee Seow Hiang, CAG’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Jewel Changi Airport Devt (JCAD)**** said: “An important hallmark of Changi Airport’s growth over the past thirty-odd years has been continual change and innovation. In charting the airport’s future, this spirit continues to underpin our strategy. Faced with intensifying competition, we challenged ourselves to rethink what an airport can be – not just as a gateway for flights, but as a tourism destination on its own."

Philip Yim, Chief Executive Officer of JCAD said: “Apart from distinctive design, Jewel will break new ground with its unique mix of attractions, retail and airport facilities, integrated in a way like never before to create a slew of different experiences in a single visit. Located at the doorstep of the award-winning Changi Airport, it will be a place where Singapore and the world meet."

*Jewel Changi Airport Trustee, the trustee-manager of Jewel Changi Airport Trust*****, is formed between Changi Airport Group (CAG) and CapitaMalls Asia (CMA), the shopping mall business of the CapitaLand Group. CAG is a 51% shareholder and unitholder of the joint venture entities while CMA owns the remaining 49%.

**This is 35% more than the 17.7 million passengers handled at T1 in 2013.

***Comparable to the combined space of the two indoor Conservatories at Gardens by the Bay.

****JCAD is the development and property manager of Jewel.

*****Jewel Changi Airport Trust is formed between Changi Airport Group (CAG) and CapitaMalls Asia (CMA), the shopping mall business of CapitaLand, to jointly own Jewel Changi Airport. The other two joint venture companies are Jewel Changi Airport Trustee, the trustee-manager of Jewel Changi Airport Trust, and Jewel Changi Airport Devt, the development and property manager of Jewel. CAG is the majority 51% unitholder and shareholder of the joint venture trust and companies, while CMA owns the remaining 49%.

Shangri-La presents garden themed event venues across Asia Pacific

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts welcomes event organisers looking for garden venues for events across Asia. 

One of the featured alternatives in China is inspired by the Suzhou Museum. The 700-sq m Shang Garden at Shangri-La Hotel, Suzhou is features the traditional elements of rocks, water, plants and a pavilion. 

In Shenzhen, the Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen has banqueting facilities that span over 4,600 sq m. At the heart of the hotel is the airy 700-sq m Roof Garden on level four. The open space has unobstructed city views and a pathway that can be candlelit for a cocktail soiree for 200 guests.

The flower-filled grounds at the Pearl River-facing garden of Shangri-La Hotel, Guangzhou makes a lovely backdrop for event photography. There is also an outdoor pool bordered by palm trees and a gazebo surrounded by waterfalls.

The Shangri-La Hotel in Ningbo, one of China's oldest cities, is a blend of tradition and modernity.  The hotel can organise a Chinese banquet in its function space – the largest in the city – or customise catering for a ceremony at its 500-sq m outdoor oasis that is enclosed by tall trees and water features. The garden is ideal for 80 to 100 persons with a standing buffet and live band.  

At the Kerry Hotel, Beijing, the Rooftop Garden is a premier venue in the city and spacious for a 250-guest reception or 120 seated attendees. The hotel's two ballrooms also feature in banquet packages.

Landscaped to resemble an imperial Chinese garden, the 3,000-sq m natural retreat at Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing has been designed with koi ponds, red Chinese pavilions, willow trees and waterfalls.  Guests can sit comfortably in the ornamental grounds for a buffet or Chinese set menu. A rooftop garden caters for smaller events. 

 

The Traders Upper East Hotel, also in Beijing, is in the Embassy District. The hotel's enormous glass podium entrance leads to a long fountain on the property's rear lawn. The garden can accommodate a maximum of 80 persons. 

Offering more than an urban setting, the decked Roof Garden at Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong is the only venue of its kind in the city.  Hidden high above the city on level 56 of the hotel, this little-known enclave is surrounded by cascading greenery and the verdant heights of Victoria Peak.  The split-level venue, measuring 148 sq m, can be reserved for events with a dinner in either the hotel's ballroom or Atrium rooms. 

Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore has a newly built 80-sq m Banyan Deck with a canopy of towering trees to provide privacy and shade during a ceremony or reception. Made from Malaysian Balau wood using traditional carpentry that does not require nails or screw joints, the deck is distinctively designed with two separate levels to hold 60 guests, while three-metre tall antique brass lamp posts add a touch of nostalgia.

The Poolside Garden at Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta is a charming venue for evening events, catering to gatherings of up to 500 guests.

The lawn at Shangri-La's Eros Hotel, New Delhi can accommodate 400 guests with a stage setup, while a maximum of 80 guests can be hosted at the garden at the Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina, Cairns in Australia. 
 
Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts owns and/or manages more than 80 hotels under the Shangri-La brand with a room inventory of over 34,000. The group has upcoming projects in mainland China, India, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar, and Sri Lanka. 

*For more information on:

Kerry Beijing: email events.hbkc@thekerryhotels.com
Shangri-La Beijing: email events.slb@shangri-la.com 
Traders Beijing: email events.thue@tradershotels.com
Cairns: e-mail events.slmc@shangri-la.com. 
Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong: email events.isl@shangri-la.com
Jakarta: email events.slj@shangri-la.com 
New Delhi: email events.slnd@shangri-la.com 
Ningbo: email events.slnb@shangri-la.com
Shenzhen: email events.slft@shangri-la.com 
Singapore: email events.sls@shangri-la.com 
Suzhou: email events.slsz@shangri-la.com

*All images from Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.