ISLAND INCENTIVES

The seaside city of Boao on Hainan Island was handpicked by former Chinese president
Jiang Zemin to host the first forum for government, experts and businesses in the Asia-Pacific region in 2001. Today, the Boao Forum for Asia is an annual event that has placed Hainan in the international spotlight.

The charms of China’s premier beach destination – complete with white sandy beaches and azure seas – were again on the international stage when Hainan hosted the Miss World Contest in 2003.
Hainan’s popularity as a destination for meetings, incentives and conferences has been growing ever since. Companies such as Amway, Motorola and Audi have all held events there.

The province’s first designated tourism zone was Yalong Bay in Sanya. The sandy bay on Hainan’s southern coast is now home to a host of resorts managed by international hotel groups. There are
currently no less than 16 golf courses in Hainan and more are planned.

On the northern coast, development around the provincial capital of Haikou is catching up and the city has recently been attracting more international hotel groups.

There is a new push to enhance Hainan’s standing and turn it into a truly international tourist destination by 2028. The government has recently unveiled a plan to liberalise air travel, continue a visa-free entry policy for tourists, increase the number of international-managed hotels and resorts, and add more duty-free shops.

There are flight connections from Hainan to more than 20 international destinations, and three international cruise liners from Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International and Star Cruises stop in Sanya.

A new tourism development area is planned for Qingshuiwan in Lingshui County to the east of Sanya. Two 18-hole golf courses, one 36-hole links course and seven luxury hotels are all to be completed in the next five years.

SANYA HOTELS
Crowne Plaza Sanya is built in a classical Chinese style and has one of the biggest ballrooms on the island at 1,300 sqm. The resort-style hotel has 466 rooms – 20 are connected to a private pool. Busy conference groups will welcome the 24-hour, in-room spa service.

The Sheraton Sanya Resort was the host venue for the Miss World pageant from 2003 to last year. The 511-room property has a ballroom that can hold up to 1,000 people and has 11 additional breakout rooms.

The off-site catering team here has dealt with high-profile events such as the Fashion TV party for 250 people on board a luxury yacht.

Hilton Sanya Resort & Spa has two ample outdoor event spaces that can hold up to 1,000 people and is popular for corporate events. The resort, which recently hosted a launch event for Audi, has 501 guestrooms and plenty of watersport options. It also hosts an annual jazz festival. A meetings, incentives and conferences pavilion provides dedicated facilities, including 11 meeting
rooms and a grand ballroom that can accommodate up to 1,000 people.

The lobby of the Sanya Marriott Resort & Spa, which overlooks the South China Sea, gives visitors an idea of what to expect – bright airy surroundings and impeccable service. All 456 guestrooms here have private balconies that look out to the sea. Meeting facilities include a ballroom of 830 sqm that can hold 700 delegates and an additional six meeting rooms.

Located just a ten-minute drive from the airport, the 408-room Kempinski Hotel Sanya opened last year. Rooms have a bathtub on the private balconies and executive room guests have access to a private pool. Other features include a private beach and the popular Paulaner Bräuhaus German restaurant and brewery. There is also an onsite Angsana Spa by Banyan Tree. The hotel
offers 11 meeting rooms for 15 to 1,000 people.

The Gloria Resort Sanya sits between the beach and an 18-hole golf course. Of the 404 rooms, the Presidential Villa is the most luxurious with a private pool, lawn and beach.
For meetings, there are five breakout rooms and one ballroom that can hold 550 delegates.

HAIKOU
The Sheraton Haikou Resort is 9km from the Haikou Exhibition Centre and has 341 guestrooms. Of note is the presidential suite that has a private entry, gym and a hot mineral spring Jacuzzi. The biggest of the eight meeting spaces, the Grand World Ballroom, holds 600 guests. The resort is the official hotel of the Haikou Ironman Triathlon.

BOAO
Sofitel Boao Hainan is on Dongyu Island, a 90-minute drive from Haikou Meilan Airport. The 437-room property is adjacent to an 18-hole golf course and has a convention centre catering for up to 2,000 delegates. The venue is best known for hosting the annual gathering of foreign officials and dignitaries for the Boao Forum. Other event spaces in the hotel include: the Dongyu Grand Ballroom for up to 1,200 delegates, the 560-seat Oriental Theatre and another 16 meeting
rooms.

NEW OPENINGS
The Pullman Sanya Yalong Bay Resort & Spa, which has 78 guestrooms and 115 uniquely
designed villas featuring private swimming pools, officially opened in June. Pullman is Accor’s new brand for meetings, incentives and conferences. The Sanya resort features six meeting rooms, the biggest is the Pacific Grand Ballroom that holds 350 people.
The Banyan Tree Sanya Resort & Spa is an all-pool villa resort which opened in April.
The 49 pool villas include two Presidential Villas with accompanying complexes that can accommodate 50 people. The living quarters for an entourage can house either 44 or 36 people. The quarters come with a swimming pool, lounge, buffet area, meeting room and gym. Valet services are available for the presidential complexes.

Also opened in April, The Ritz-Carlton, Sanya, has a U-shaped design with guestrooms in two wings. The hotel has 450 rooms including 33 pool villas with their own private butlers. A total of 1,700 sqm of meeting space includes a ballroom for 800 people and nine additional breakout rooms.

CONVENTIONS AND EXHIBITIONS
In addition to the Boao Forum for Asia International Convention Centre on Dongyu Island that holds up to 2,000 delegates, another convention option is the International Asia Pacific Convention Centre in Sanya, located 15 minutes’ drive from Sanya Phoenix International Airport. The threestorey centre has 16 function rooms for groups of up to 1,000 delegates, and there
is a 611-room hotel on the site.

At the northern end of the island, the Haikou Convention & Exhibition Centre has sweeping sea views and a total indoor exhibition space of 25,000 sqm to house 966 standard-sized booths. The facility also includes outdoor space of 12,000 sqm and 25 conference rooms.

GOLF
There are a number of golf courses around Sanya and Haikou. Of note is the Yalong Bay Golf Club in Sanya, an 18-hole championship golf course about 40 minutes’ drive from Sanya’s airport and within easy reach of major hotels. The course is designed in a shape of a dragon’s claw – with lakes and marsh areas – fringed by the sea and mountains. The club has 41 guestrooms, which were completed at the end of last year, and a function room for up to 50 people.

COMING UP
Set on a cove with its own 1.2km-long beach and outdoor space for events, the Mandarin
Oriental Sanya will be one of the most luxurious resorts in Hainan when it opens at the end of the year. All 297 rooms offer views of the South China Sea and there are also 15 private villas.