PenangRecently I had the
pleasure of visiting the beautiful island of Penang and meeting with the
wonderful Pacific World MICE and FIT staff who truly make you feel 10
feet tall and very special!
My first night was spent at the magnificent and recently renovated
Shangri-la Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa. The Resort has two sections –
the Rasa and the Garden Wing – with the latter boasting huge private
baths on the balcony and a 24-hour butler service to fill your bath with
a choice of 4 essential oils and rose petals. There is also the very
indulgent Chi Spa consisting of 11 separate villas for healing and
relaxing spa treatments.
The next morning we left the Shangri-la and headed to Georgetown,
driving through the historical route as an opening introduction to the
heritage of Penang during the British reign. City Hall, located
in the centre of Georgetown, is the boarding point for the trishaw –
“the king of the road”, which is a must do experience for any traveller
to Penang. As the driver of the Penang trishaw is behind the cabin, your
view is unobstructed. Our ride took us via Fort Cornwallis (a
great site for a theme dinner), the Clock Tower, Light Street,
Market Street and the Streets of Harmony (aptly named as all
religious places of worship are next to each other) and bypassed St
George Church, Kuan Yin-Goddess of Mercy and Little India.
The journey ended at the Pinang Peranakan Mansion – a unique
venue ideal for a Baba Nyonya (from Malay and Chinese culture)
themed or a Chinese themed dinner.
Another must-see-venue which is also ideal for themed dinners, is the
Khoo Kongsi Clan House, built by its clan members. There are many
other places of interest for groups, including the Penang Craft Batik
at the Teluk Bahang, where delegates can paint and make
individual batiks and the Tropical Spice Garden, a beautiful
oasis of trees and plants where experts educate you about the healing
benefits of the many herbs and spices.
 Penang
is renowned for its food and love of it and thankfully, there is an
abundance of restaurants for lunch and dinner. Some of the venues I
visited included the Northam Beach Hawker’s Café, a must for any
visitor where you can visit an array of hawker stalls all under the one
roof; the Eden Seafood Restaurant, a dinner venue that serves the
freshest seafood, Chinese and Western cuisine and holds a nightly
cultural show and Palace D’India, serving authentic Northern and
Southern Indian cuisine.
Penang has much to offer for either the first time visitor to Asia or
the experienced traveller. The conference and incentive hotels are
excellent and for a different experience to the Rasa Sayang, there is
the Eastern & Oriental Hotel in Georgetown with its British
colonial feel and the Park
Royal Hotel with its amazing lobby.
Tropical Spice Gardens
Kuala
Lumpur (KL) and Singapore
The next stop was KL and again, thanks to Pacific World Malaysia for all
their professional assistance and care! I stayed at the fabulous and
funky Westin Hotel in the city centre and L’Meridien near
KL Sentral (Central) for an easy and pain-free exit to the airport by
the KLIA Express train. A great combination for any group or
traveller! Another beautiful hotel is the Shangri-la which
provides many creative dining opportunities.
 After
experiencing a very satisfying breakfast at the Westin, I walked a short
distance to Starhill where located underneath is the Feast
Village – an innovative dining concept suited to dine-arounds. It
offers a multitude of restaurants including fine dining, trendy
nightspots, steak, seafood and local cuisine. From here, it is only a
short drive to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre which offers
many alternatives for different size groups.
KL offers many other dining alternatives for lunch or dinner and some of
these are Seri Melayu Restaurant, a local cultural venue; Seri
Angkasa Restaurant, the revolving restaurant at the top of KL Tower;
Saloma, a colonial inspired venue with local cultural
Feast Village Restaurant
shows and Tamarind Springs, a fine dining experience in a jungle
atmosphere.
A wonderful venue for a special awards dinner or gala evening is
Carcosa Seri Negara. It is the beautiful and elegant former home of
the British High Commissioner and is set in stunning landscaped gardens.
It offers off-site dining opportunities, both in the permanent striped
Marquee and within the restaurant area of the hotel.
KL is also a shopper’s haven and Starhill, China Town and
Sunway Resort (near Putrajaya) are just a few retail areas to choose
from.
 I
continued onto Singapore, where in less than 24 hours, I was able to
cover quite a lot of the new and favourite sights and venues. Of course
no visit to Singapore is complete without a traditional Singapore Sling
at the iconic Raffles Hotel and just across the road, is the
Raffles The Plaza, a fabulous hotel with sumptuous beds and a great
location.
The Divine Society, an art deco private club, offers an indulgent
venue for incentives and also for themed evenings. A must for a
traditional Chinese dinner is the China Club with its authentic
surrounds and eagle’s view of central Singapore. It offers two floors
for different dining options and is suitable for large or small groups.
Journey back to your hotel via Clarke Quay, known as the ‘New
York’ area of Singapore, where there are many bars to choose from
including the Ministry of Sound Nightclub.
Raffles Hotel, Singapore
Sentosa Island is now very much an integral part of Singapore
with the Integrated Resorts and the huge developments taking
place. Amara Sanctuary Resort is a new 4 ½ star property
overlooking the sea with private villas and a spa. Even for the regular
visitor to Singapore there is so much to see and do and never a dull
moment!
I can highly recommend Penang, KL and Singapore for your next conference
or incentive group. Please contact us at DMS if you would like more
details or to view suggested itineraries, please visit
www.destinationmarketing.com.au
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