ADELAIDE
Monty Loft House
Three of the Adelaide Hills property’s private dining spaces were spruced up during an extensive refurbishment of the Heritage Wing: Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant, seating 60 banquet-style or 80 cocktail-style; Arthur Waterhouse Bar, seating 72 people or 80 cocktail-style; and an underground wine cellar and tasting room. The freshened venues reopened in September.
mtloftyhouse.com.au
BRISBANE
Hilton Brisbane
A year in the making and an A$400 million (approx US$293m) investment later, Hilton Brisbane (above) rolled out its completely revamped Conferencing and Events floor in October.
With Melbourne firm Carr Design at the creative helm, the entire meeting space was stripped down and recreated. Highlights include the replacement of the main ballroom operable walls, the upgrading of AV in all 19 function rooms, and the connecting of the lobby atrium with spaces below.
“We are particularly delighted by the amazing lighting features in the main Ballroom and throughout the event spaces,” said Chris Partridge, hotel general manager.
To celebrate the relaunch, the property teamed up with award-winning events company Staging Connections to host an exclusive showcase event for local Professional Conference Organisers.
The redesign follows an A$700,000 upgrade of the hotel’s pool terrace and Victoria’s Meeting room in 2015.
hilton.com/hotels/queensland/hilton-brisbane
HONG KONG
New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel
Hong Kong-based design house Henmax Interiors was tasked with touching up the hotel’s event spaces, guestrooms, lobby and lounge. While the guestrooms were unveiled in early 2016, the other spaces were not launched until October.
The polished function venues, comprising a 460-pax ballroom and nine other rooms, follow an earthy-tone colour scheme and feature crystal chandeliers, mirrors, and matt metal surfaces.
Boasting a contemporary aesthetic with wooden wall panels and timber tiles, the freshened lobby is now dominated by a unique art piece – a wavy bronze column by US sculptor John Searles.
newworldmillenniumhotel.com
KOTA KINABALU
Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu
A milestone in the hotel’s head-to-toe facelift was the launch of its upgraded meeting facilities in September.
All eight meeting rooms on the property’s third level were fitted with pre-function niches, and the floor’s arrival space gained refreshment stations, work stations, and large LED panels for decoration.
Other renovation highlights include the addition of abstract light installations and wall-to-wall carpeting to the 475 sqm ballroom (above), billed as Kota Kinabalu’s largest, which now offers “virtually unlimited configuration options”, according to the hotel.
General manager Rachael Harman says the revamped spaces “reinforce the hotel’s status as the premier choice in Sabah’s Rainforest City for memorable meetings and social events.”
She adds: “The refreshing new perspective [on event spaces] ensures optimal functionality to create the ideal business-focused setting, supported by meticulous service and innovative technology.”
The resort in the Malaysian state of Sabah offers 14 meeting rooms in total, ranging from 26-216 sqm.
lemeridienkotakinabalu.com
KUALA LUMPUR
Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur
A yearlong, RM50 million (approx US$11m) renovation project saw the hotel overhaul its meeting facilities and Club Lounge, as well as guestrooms and dining outlets.
Situated on the 33rd floor, the 420 sqm Club Lounge includes an open kitchen with live cooking station, a private meeting room for maximum eight people, lounge seating and business facilities. The intimate space accommodates up to 90 people.
Besides the lounge meeting room, the 420-room property offers planners 11 function spaces, including a 400 sqm ballroom, that were all renovated in 2015.
lemeridienkualalumpur.com
MARGARET RIVER REGION (WESTERN AUSTRALIA)
Pullman Bunker Bay Resort
Previously two small rooms, the hotel’s Sugarloaf Rock room function space (below) has been opened up to create a single, 70sqm pillarless room with capacity for 80 cocktail style. Technological improvements include the addition of a ceiling-mounted projector with 120-inch screen, new speaker system, TV point, roaming microphone and complimentary wifi.
Fitted with floor to ceiling windows that open onto a private terrace, the upgraded venue boasts views over Bunker Bay, the northernmost beach in Western Australia’s Margaret River Wine Region, and the Indian Ocean.
“This brilliant new space provides exactly what meeting planners are looking for; an aspirational, flexible venue with an abundance of natural inspiration to rejuvenate conference attendees during breaks,” says resort general manager Phil Richards. “It’s also the perfect setting for weddings and special events.”
To celebrate the launch of the upgraded Sugarloaf Rock room, the 150-room resort is offering planners who book and hold events before December 31, 2016 a complimentary add-on for their event and double Le Club Accorhotels Meeting Planner points. Bonus options include complimentary AV setup, a 30-minute cocktail event or a one-night bed and breakfast voucher.
pullmanbunkerbayresort.com.au
PHUKET
Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort
The coastal resort unveiled its touched up conference centre in May following a head-to-toe facelift.
The interiors now flaunt custom designed carpets and Jim Thompson Thai silk wall fabrics. A partition, made from eco-friendly recycled glass, has been added to the main ballroom, and the once open-air promenade, remodelled as the Orchid Gallery, has gained a sky roof.
On the technology front, the centre has been installed with High-Definition widescreen projectors and a motorised 250-inch projector screen in the main ballroom, JBL sound and subwoofer system, and faster wifi throughout the building.
The polished centre has six venues total, including an 816 sqm divisible ballroom, and four equally sized 125 sqm meeting rooms.
lemeridienphuketbeachresort.com
SINGAPORE
Swissôtel Merchant Court
In addition to refurbishing all 476 rooms, the hotel gained three new meeting rooms over the course of an 18-month refurbishment.
This brings the total number of event venues to eight, including a refreshed 680 sqm ballroom.
The revamp also covered three dining outlets – Peranakan restaurant Ellenborough Market Café, lobby lounge Crossroads Bar and poolside diner Blue Potato – and introduced a new in-house spa brand.
swissotel.com/hotels/singapore-merchant-court
SYDNEY
Ovolo Woolloomooloo
Finalising a A$20million refurbishment, Ovolo Woolloomooloo launched a new event complex towards the middle of the year.
Replacing the hotel’s former lobby and reception area in a heritage-listed wharf, the space houses 11 rooms fitted with state-of-the-art AV equipment, wifi and stationery. The largest, Piper Room (below), can be combined with The Burbs – comprising three rooms – to create a venue for up to 350 people.
ovolohotels.com/hotels/sydney/ovolo-woolloomooloo
See our feature on 12 of the best hotel event-space upgrades in Asia.
