MICE Supplement: China Venues

Shanghai

The 2010 World Expo was many things…a great tourist attraction, a means for social change and a way for Shanghai, and China in general, to show off to the world. Ultimately though, it was just the largest MICE event of all time. Now six or so months since Haibao has moved on, it’s time to look at what’s next on the agenda for the MICE industry in Shanghai and how it can continue to develop in the shadow of the Expo.

Never ones to rest on their laurels, the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration (SMTA) have begun to implement a plan to continue the growth of the MICE industry in Shanghai. With projects like the Disney theme park in Pudong and the redevelopment of already popular areas like Hongqiao, the plan is to almost double the city’s current capacity.

Shanghai saw massive changes to its infrastructure during the Expo. Over the years leading up to the event, hotel after hotel sprang up – each one offering their own take on how MICE should be conducted. In fact there were so many international and domestic brands appearing on the map that some commentators predicted an oversupply. Luckily a combination of excellent services and China’s economic strength has meant that many of the hotels that opened are doing great.

It isn’t hard to see why forecasters are predicting that the industry in Shanghai will continue to grow at its current rate. The recent Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings (IT&CM) conference saw a 10 per cent rise in attendance from the previous year, and is expected to continue to grow for the foreseeable future. Part of the STMA’s inaugural Shanghai Business Events Week, the IT&CM and other related events are a collaboration among leading players to take the China MICE industry to new heights.

With this and the prospect of even greater financial stability on the horizon, Shanghai’s MICE industry should no longer look back on the Expo as the best that this city could produce, and instead be excited about the future.

Gran Melia Shanghai

Built in the heart of Lujiazui and providing stunning views of the financial district of Shanghai, The Gran Melia is a MICE planner’s dream. Their Grand Ballroom and 17 meeting rooms cater to some of the largest banquets and conferences in the area. Available for elaborate weddings, board meetings, or an elegant soirée, they have the space if you have the idea.

1288 Lujiazui Huan Lu. Tel: 3867 8888. Web: www.gran-melia-shanghai.com

Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao Hotel

With over 2,800 square metres of flexible meeting and banquet space spread over seven meeting rooms, banquet halls and boardrooms, Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao has the tools to carry out MICE events of all shapes and sizes. The hotel opened in late 2010 and boasts the largest ballroom in Puxi – a spacious room with 1,706 square metres of space that can accommodate upwards of 1,000 guests. A VIP room and exclusive entrance are attached to the impressive ballroom, making it a perfect space for a banquet or a wedding with special guests.

1116 Hongsong Dong Lu. Tel: 3323 6666. Web: www.hilton.com

InterContinental Shanghai Expo

Located next to the grounds of World Expo 2010 Shanghai, the InterContinental Shanghai Expo is the perfect venue for memorable meetings and events. The hotel has a total of nine fully-equipped meeting rooms, as well as the Grand and Terrace Ballrooms, to fit your business’ every need. Their InterContinental Meetings service creates bespoke MICE experiences drawing on their unrivalled local knowledge to create truly engaging, personalised occasions, complete with unpretentious lunches, coffee breaks and dinners.

1188 Xueye Lu (near Nanmatou Lu). Tel: 3858 1188. Web: www.intercontinental.com

Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel Shanghai

Regarded among the most luxurious and innovative hotel brands in the world and recipient of numerous international travel and tourism awards, the Jumeirah will cater to any and all of your MICE needs. Set in Pudong adjacent the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, the city’s largest exposition facilities, the hotel features 1,939 square metres of premium meeting and conference space. A particular highlight is the Grand Ballroom, an imposing column-less room with a 12 metre high ceiling and the ability to host up to 800 people.

1108 Meihua Lu. Tel: 3858 0888. Web: www.jumeirah.com

Sofitel Shanghai Sheshan Oriental

Located in Sheshan, the quiet suburb of Shanghai, the Sofitel Shanghai Sheshan Oriental proves that good work can, and should, be done in a peaceful location. The hotel has 12 multi-function rooms combining to make a massive 2,100 square metres of premium MICE space. Situated in an independent building so as not to disturb guests, the meeting spaces are equipped with all the amenities you need to hold a successful event. The beautiful pillar-less, 1,200 square metre Grand Ballroom can be separated into three smaller venues to best suit the needs of the client.

3388 Sichen Lu. Tel: 3761 8888. Web: www.sofitel.com

Kerry Hotel Pudong

Although a new player on the MICE scene in Shanghai, Kerry Hotel Pudong has the potential to become one of the best venues in the city to conduct events. With the Shanghai New International Expo Centre next door to Kerry Parkside complex and directly connected to the hotel via a covered walkway, the hotel’s facilities are designed to capitalise on this 300,000 square metres of meeting space. Offering both indoor and outdoor MICE facilities, Kerry has both the flexibility and diversity to truly excel at hosting any event, be it social or business.

1388 Huamu Lu. Tel: 6169 8888. Web: www.shangri-la.com

Sheraton Shanghai Hongqiao

Removed from the hustle and bustle of downtown, The Sheraton Shanghai Hongqiao is a perfect place to conduct any sort of MICE event. As one of the first five-star hotels in the city and one with 20 years of experience, the Sheraton and its staff are well versed in the art of facilitating a perfect event. With over 1,668 square metres of combined banquet and meeting room space, there aren’t many desires they can’t handle.

5 Zunyi Nan Lu. Tel: 6275 8888. Web: www.starwoodhotels.com

Xi’an

There is more to Xi’an than terracotta soldiers and ancient city walls; in fact there is flourishing MICE industry going on in the city. A short plane flight away from Shanghai, a MICE getaway to Xi’an is the perfect change of scenery needed to ensure a successful time whatever your company’s intentions are.

Sofitel Xi’an

With the largest convention centre of its type in the region, the Sofitel Xi’an should be your first port of call when organising a large MICE event. It includes a 1,100 square metre pillar-less grand ballroom that can hold up to 1,000 people.

319 Dongxin Lu. Tel: (29) 8792 8888. Web: www.sofitel.com

Grand Park Xi’an

The Grand Park Xi’an is an ideal place to meet, offering seven small to medium sized meeting rooms and the 400 person capacity Yong Ning ballroom. Their dedicated team of professionals will work tirelessly to ensure your event goes off without a hitch.

12 Xiduan Huan Cheng Nan Lu. Tel: (29) 8760 8888. Web: www.parkhotelgroup.com

Wuxi

Just a little further away than Suzhou, Wuxi is another great location if you are planning a MICE trip. Often referred to as Little Shanghai, the economic boom that this city has experienced over the past 10 years is the perfect backdrop to get in a productive mood. If a city break isn’t what you are looking for then you can travel just a little bit outside the city’s borders and be in some of the most picturesque scenery Jiangsu province has to offer.

Double Tree Hilton Wuxi

With an excellent position in relation to the area’s airports and its beautiful countryside setting, the Double Tree Hilton Wuxi combines everything you need for a great MICE getaway. Their extensive meeting room options and team building activities mean that your every need will be catered for.

99 Qi Li Feng Guang Di. Tel: (510) 8535 5000. Web: www.doubletree1.hilton.com

InterContinental Wuxi

Newly opened and excited to show off what they do, the InterContinental Wuxi has plenty of meeting options available. Coming with InterContinental’s standard on site sales and meeting professionals and providing almost 1,500 square metres of meeting space, it’s one of the best in town.

2 Yonghe Lu, Nanchang District. Tel: (510) 8118 5888. Web: www.intercontinental.com

Nanjing

The capital of Jiangsu province, Nanjing is a marvelous option when it comes to planning your very own MICE retreat. Far enough away to feel removed from the day-to-day chores of Shanghai life, but close enough to justify a two or three day trip – there aren’t many better choices about.

Grand Metro Park Hotel Nanjing

The Grand Metropark Hotel Nanjing offers numerous banquet and meeting facilities to facilitate the needs of your group. Whatever event you’re planning, the Grand Metro Park has the solution. The Grand Ballroom accommodates 1,200 guests while a choice of 22 private function rooms caters to every requirement.

319 Zhongshan Dong Lu. Tel: (25) 8480 8888. Web: www.metroparkhotels.com

Nanjing InterContinental Hotel

With two grand ballrooms, each 1,000 square metres in size, and almost 2,000 square metres of other meeting space, there aren’t many events that couldn’t take place here. In addition, the InterContinental offers the services of six sales and meeting professionals on site.

1 Zhongyang Lu, Gulou District. Tel: (25) 8353 8888. Web: www.intercontinental.com

Suzhou

Suzhou lies only 25 minutes away by train from central Shanghai and represents a great option if you are planning a getaway with your staff. With plenty of hotels and lots to do besides, employees and managers alike will love it. Although with its very convenient location and relaxed atmosphere, it might be hard to get your employees back when work starts again in earnest on Monday morning.

Kempinski Suzhou

With a capacity of 1,800 in the grand ball room and 2,600 square metres of meeting space, the Kempinski Suzhou is one of the best when it comes to planning a MICE event.

1 Guobin Lu, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou. Tel: (512) 6289 7888. Web: www.kempinski.com

Fairmont Yancheng Lake

In addition to beautiful outdoor event space in Kunshan, The Fairmont Yancheng Lake offers various indoor spaces including a 1,200 square metre Grand Ballroom overlooking the magnificent lake, as well as areas perfect for teambuilding.

3668 West Ma’anshan Lu, Kunshan. Tel: (512) 5780 0888. Web: www.fairmont.com/yangchenglake

Ningbo

A little further a field than the other locations on this list, Ningbo is still a very manageable train trip away from Shanghai – just shy of three hours gets you in to the city proper. With a wide variety of hotel brands, Ningbo has everything you need to plan a perfect MICE event.

Shangri-La Ningbo

The Ningbo Shangri-La Hotel provides comprehensive event solutions to corporate clients. With over 5,000 square metres of meeting and banqueting space, they have the facilities to provide the perfect location to hold an excellent event. In addition, their massive 2,000-square-metre, column-free grand ballroom is perfect for banqueting and MICE alike.

88 Yuyuan Lu, Jiangdong District. Tel: (574) 8799 8888. Web: www.shangri-la.com

Ningbo Marriott

Ningbo’s Marriott hotel has been providing great MICE related services since the day it opened. With 13 meeting rooms and a huge amount of conference space that includes a grand ballroom boasting a capacity of 600, the hotel can cater to almost any of your needs.

188 Heyi Lu, Haishu District. Tel: (574) 810 8888. Web: www.marriott.com

Hangzhou

Just a couple of years ago it would have taken hours to get to the city that Marco Polo described as “beyond dispute the finest and the noblest in the world”. This is no longer the case thanks to the increasingly amazing Chinese rail network. Now you and your office party can get to Hangzhou in as little as 45 minutes. With the West Lake and heaps of other locations of cultural interest, there is plenty to do in the moments between meetings. Hotel-wise expect a quality of service that would be at home in Shanghai and plenty of familiar names.

JW Marriott Hotel Hangzhou

With 15 meeting rooms and over 2,000 square metres of MICE space, Hangzhou’s JW Marriott has every option covered when it comes to holding your next out-of-office event. With a capacity of 900 the largest room they have to offer to is the JW Grand Ballroom.

28 Hushu Nan Lu. Tel: (571) 8578 8888. Web: www.marriott.com

Hyatt Regency Hangzhou

Hyatt Regency Hangzhou provides business groups with access to 20 multi-purpose function rooms and offers a wide variety of services to ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible.

28 Hubin Lu. Tel: (571) 8779 1234. Web: www.hangzhou.regency.hyatt.com

Wuhan

Famous for the massive French investment in the city and its significant cultural importance to modern China’s development, Wuhan is a great choice when it comes to planning a MICE related retreat. The appeal of Wuhan is that it is quieter and less industrial in nature and has a great selection of hotels, which combine to make it an excellent counter point to the fast paced and stressful nature of Shanghai.

Shangri-La Hotel Wuhan

Its central location in Wuhan makes the Shangri-La a perfect location for business meetings, conferences and seminars. All the meeting rooms are equipped with the latest audio-visual facilities. In addition the hotel offers professional support service to help events run smoothly.

700 Jianshe Dadao. Tel: (27) 8580 6868. Web: www.shangri-la.com

Ramada Plaza Optics Valley Hotel Wuhan

Another great hotel to hold your work conferences in, the Ramada Plaza Optics Valley Hotel is well trained in the art of staging events. With seven meeting rooms (the largest able to hold 700 people), conference rooms with high speed internet and multiple other business solutions, the Ramada Plaza has all the facilities you could ever want.

726 Luoyu Lu. Tel: (27) 8780 6888. Web: www.ramada.com