Meetings and Incentives: M I C E  in BALI

By Gaia Grant

Our Experience        M I C E in Bali   Adventure programs     Cultural programs           Written information

No longer content to sit inside dark rooms in crowded city hotels, conference participants are in the process of a slow but sure revolution towards holding meetings in exotic destinations. With the trend towards making Conferences and Incentives an exciting event where the location is a particular attraction rather than simply another meeting destination, Bali is always an inviting option, as the island literally "has it all".

 

There is no more exotic meeting destination than Bali, with the perfect combination of friendly and efficient service and the irrepressible smiles of local staff, various luxurious accommodation possibilities, and the tropical environment to make it a perfect getaway.

 

The island is therefore an obvious choice for incentive organisers, who are looking for those special little touches that will set the event apart. With a wide range of equally tempting excursion options, endless unique gift possibilities, and spectacular themed events, incentive groups need to look no further.

 

But many conference organisers may be surprised to discover that not only is Bali a wonderful place to combine business with pleasure, and to break away from the conventional meetings' mould, but there is actually a huge range of top quality facilities available for the largest convention through to the most elite private meeting. 

 

The Bali Convention Centre (located in Nusa Dua) is world class, and has a number of meeting options, from small breakout rooms, to a large auditorium seating hundreds, and an enormous ballroom with a capacity for thousands.

 

Most good hotels also have a range of conference facilities available, including, at the very least, breakout and meeting rooms and adaptable ballrooms that can be divided up and used as required. Many of the four and five star hotels are also experienced in handling conference groups, and can offer a range of services, such as extravagant themed dinners, classy staging and decorative options, and basic group activities.

 

Good conference and incentive venues in the Nusa Dua area include The Grand Hyatt Hotel, which has the most extensive conference facilities and is a consistent award winner in this area. The Sheraton and Westin Hotels have close access to the Convention Centre, and has a large number of rooms available between the Sheraton Laguna (from the "luxury collection") and the Westin. The Amanusa is ideal for the small upper end retreat.

 

At Jimbaran, the luxury Four Seasons Hotel with their individual villas is a popular choice for incentive groups. You will also find the beautiful Ritz Carlton and Intercontinental Hotels there, both with appropriate conference and incentive facilities. Sanur has the Radisson, which boasts a large and spacious ballroom, and the Bali Hyatt Hotel, which offers the authentic Balinese experience, with a lovely large thatched venue for dinners and meetings.

 

Just out of town at Canggu is the small and unique Tugu Hotel, which is basically a fascinating collection of museum pieces incorporated into a hotel. Definitely somewhere special to take a group looking for something different. Le Meridien is a little further down the road at Tanah Lot, and has dramatic views over to the temple as well as direct access to the amazing cliff-top golf course at Nirwana.

 

On islands outside of Bali are some other excellent hotel choices for low-key conference and incentive possibilities. The well-appointed Sheraton Senggigi at Lombok, for example, is able to cater for conference and incentive groups. Even further afield, the Amanwana resort (part of the exclusive Aman chain) is an ideal base for outdoor experiential learning activities. At Sumba, the Nihiwatu Resort, similarly, has access to a great range of wonderful outdoor activities and is situated in an exotic remote location.

 

There are a number of excellent Destination Management Services (DMCs) that can assist conference organisers with all relevant ground handling arrangements. Airport transfers, excursions and tours, and conference licensing are their specialties.

 

With an internationally acclaimed reputation and numerous awards in recognition of their achievements, Pacific World Travel is capable of and experienced in handling all meeting and incentive events. They now also offer a specialised MICE department in conjunction with the Bali International Convention Centre, which can cater to specialised meeting and incentive needs.

 

Bali World Travel offers an exclusive personalised service to MICE clients. With great attention to detail and a warm approach to meeting and greeting clients, BWT is the ideal choice for those wanting to ensure each participant feels special and is specially catered for.

 

Some of the other big names in destination management include Pacto Tours, Rama Tours, Vayatours, Tour East, Kelana, Jan's Tours, Jatra Tours and Lila Tours.

 

For off-site events, there are a number of excellent restaurants that can cater to large and small groups. The Bali Bird Park, for example, has a wonderful ambience and unique background music from the birds themselves. M&Ms catering services can also produce creative and colourful themed events at different locations around the island, including at a palace in the Ubud hills, or at the Waterbom water activities park in Kuta.

 

Memorable events can be held on the Bali Hai cruise boat, which can take over three hundred people to the island of Nusa Lembongan or on a dinner cruise around Benoa Harbour. The Bali Hai company also has a more exclusive luxury catamaran for groups of up to 50. The Waka company has an emphasis on individual quality, and also has a lovely cruise as well as special off-road tours. Both companies have beach clubs on the Island of Nusa Lembongan, where it is possible for conference and incentive groups to swim and snorkel in a beautifully tranquil environment.

 

Sobek rafting is a popular choice for the more adventurous groups, with regular tours down the spectacular Ayung River. The Bali Adventure company has a similar rafting program, as well as an elephant park and other even more daring adventure possibilities.

 

Unique throughout Asia is the specialised conference input programming services that Tirian offers. Tirian is able to provide any sort of training and development that may be required, from specialised workshops through to creative team building events and inspiring keynote talks. Utilising the endless possibilities from the Balinese culture and environment, these programs are always a special experience in themselves (see website www.tirian.com ).

 

Combining the program possibilities within Bali with the opportunity for regular flights direct to Bali from a range of destinations around the world will help to ensure the logistics are easily taken care of.

 

Few conference or incentive destinations can offer so much!

 

Our Experience  M I C E in Bali   Adventure programs            Cultural programs           Written information

 

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