For a relatively small peninsula on the southern tip of Bali, Nusa Dua carries a lot of weight as the island’s premier luxury resort area. In a bid to attract corporate groups into the enclave, it has fashioned itself as a destination where leisure and business interests meet seamlessly.
In May, its stock as an offsite venue option for business events will increase further with the opening of the brand-new Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC), the second purpose-built meeting and conference facility in the area after the Bali International Convention Center.
“We have already lined up our first event so that pretty much locked our opening date in place,” says Lucy Thurana, BNDCC director of sales and marketing, adding that they hope to book a total of 40 events for the convention centre by the year-end.
Sitting on prime real estate in an exclusive area in Nusa Dua, the three-storey BNDCC has 25,000sqm of flexible space that can be configured to specific requirements to accommodate groups from 2,000 to 5,000 people. The pillarless convention hall on the ground floor measures 4,600sqm with a 9m ceiling and can be divided into five smaller spaces. There is a large loading dock area that allows for easy set-up and quick dismantling before and after every event.
There are 17 meeting rooms – located on the ground and mezzanine floors – ideal for breakout sessions. There is an ample foyer on both floors outside the meeting rooms where set-ups for registration, refreshments or small exhibitions are possible.
The Plenary Hall on the top floor can suit theatre-style extravaganzas from awards ceremonies to musical concerts, with a capacity for 1,800 people. For outdoor events, the Ceremonial Plaza, which is set in the 70,000sqm landscaped gardens, is perfect for themed evenings, cocktails or barbecues.
BNDCC boasts sophisticated support facilities for hassle-free events, with simultaneous translation and the latest audio-visual equipment; an onsite bonded warehouse that ensures the fast import and re-export of goods being used for exhibitions and conferences; an in-house catering facility equipped to handle complex menu requirements; secretariat offices to serve as a temporary base for organisers during events and conferences; and an in-house clinic for first aid and medical emergencies.
One perk that both event planner and delegates will approve of is the complimentary wifi access, which few venues offer. “Our aim is to exceed the organisers’ expectations, from their very first contact with our sales team, all the way through our business events managers, chefs, service staff and technical team,” declares Thurana.
In October, the mettle of the new convention centre will be tested when the 2,000-strong World Renewable Energy Congress is staged there. Thurana, however, believes that BNDCC and the entire Nusa Dua community are up to the challenge. The area’s resort complex has a 4,000-room inventory from 4- and 5-star hotels, a nearby 18-hole Golf and Country Club, an amphitheatre, a string of trendy shops and, of course, the ubiquitous white-sand beachfront.
Already, plans are in the works for the Phase 2 development – the building of a dedicated space for exhibition, slated to begin next year. Time will tell if Nusa Dua can sufficiently build up its business event numbers to keep its two world-class convention centres busy. But Bali’s convenient air links and Nusa Dua’s service-oriented culture give it a fighting chance of carving its own niche in Southeast Asia’s competitive events sector.
KEY FACTS
CAPACITY
Total Floor Area: 25,000sqm spread over three storeys
Convention Hall: 4,600sqm that can be divided into five smaller function rooms to accommodate groups between 300 and 5,000 people. Surrounding the hall is a 2,000sqm pre-function area
Plenary Hall: 1,800sqm with a capacity for 1,800 people
Meeting Rooms: 17 rooms, covering a total area of 3,000sqm, can hold groups from 30 to 300 people
OTHER FACILITIES
A VIP room designed for high-profile bilateral meetings can also be used for one-on-one meetings as well as a VIP holding lounge for important speakers and guests. The open-air Ceremonial Plaza can host a reception for up to 1,000 people. BNDCC’s facilities also include complimentary wifi access, videoconference and simultaneous translations systems, an in-house clinic, two F&B outlets, in-house catering and a bonded warehouse
