ACCOMMODATION
Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu
This hotel’s meeting and conference rooms are among the finest in Kota Kinabalu. Conference planners can book up to 306 well-appointed guestrooms. The 475 sqm ballroom holds 370 people and has excellent audiovisual support. There are five meeting rooms with ambiant natural lighting and one room opens onto a balcony. An adjoining area is ideal for function setups and displays.
Sipadan Water VillageIncentive planners looking for a base for great water activities will find Sipadan WaterVillage’s 45 chalets on stilts over the sea ideal. A web of walkways connects five types of accommodation – all eco-friendly buildings influenced by the designs of the Bajau indigenous ethnic group. Features an openair restaurant and a bar lounge that stays open until midnight. Shangri-La Rasa RiaSurrounded by 160 hectares of tropical vegetation, the resort’s 330 rooms offer views of the sea, gardens or beach. The Shangri-La has hosted events such as the Nortel Executive Partner Forum 2006 and 118 members from the Kinnarps office furniture sales team.Conference organisers can hire the Grand Ballroom and its 750 sqm of elegant, openspace, which can host 600-guest gala dinners and 1,000-person cocktail parties. Organisers can plan group events in the resort’s nature reserve, arrange catamaran cruises and there is an 18-hole championship golf course on-site.
www.shangri-la.com/kotakinabalu/rasaria/en
Hyatt Regency KinabaluWith 288 rooms and suites, the Hyatt Regency Kinabalu offers meeting planners a variety of function rooms and modern facilities. The Kimanis Ballroom has a capacity of 400 people for a seated dinner and 450 people for cocktails. The Keembong I and II, Bungor and Cempaka rooms are more intimate options. The hotel’s sports facilities include an outdoor pool, fitness centre and golf.kinabalu.regency.hyatt.com
Nexus Resort KarambunaiWith 485 guestrooms, suites and villas set in 1,350 hectares of natural surroundings, the Nexus offers the ideal getaway for meetings and incentives. The 1,200 sqm Grand Ballroom can seat 800 people for a banquet or 1,400 for a conference. In addition, there are eight meeting rooms with a combined space of 2,750 sqm. Theme parties including Borneo Rainforest, Shanghai Surprise and Colours of Malaysia. The resort welcomed more than 300 delegates for the 3rd International Conference on Artificial Intelligence last year and is hosting this year’s Malaysian Amateur Golf Open. INCENTIVE IDEASBEST FOR… MOUNTAIN CLIMBINGExotic BorneoGroups can take day trips to the base of the 4,095-metre high Mount Kinabalu, which towers above one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. Nominated byUNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Kinabalu Park offers visitors a glimpse into Sabah’s plant and animal life during walks through the rainforest and across the 30m-high canopy walkway. Activity planners who have recently used Exotic Borneo include American Express, Princess Cruises, Tower Life Australia and Royal Viking. BEST FOR… ECO-SURVIVALTYK Adventure ToursSadib Miki, a former logger, has set up the Miki Survival Camp in the foothills of Mount Kinabalu, with the aim of protecting the Mohan Tuhan forest and educating visitors. Activities include building campsites; identifying edible fruits, foods and traditional medicines; making animal traps; and navigating in the jungle. Sadib Miki recently passed on his survival skills to a cabin crew group from Cathay Pacific. BEST FOR… NATURE SAFARISBorneo Tour SpecialistsEvent planners can select a two-day tour that begins on Turtle Island with an after-dinner expedition to watch green turtles lay eggs on the beach, transplanting eggs to the hatchery and the release of baby turtles to the sea. The following day, the group heads to the Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre for a presentation before a rainforest walk to watch orang-utans in the jungle canopy. BEST FOR… SNORKELLINGScuba ParadiseSnorkelling and diving packages at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park Islands provide incentive planners with a range of underwater options.Snorkellers can see coral just metres offshore or take an introductory diving course.Swimmers of any competency can head to the Mantanani Islands to see its mainattraction, the dugong, or sea cow, a playful marine mammal.www.scubaparadiseborneo.com.my
BEST FOR… JUNGLE EXPLORERSSabah Tea PlantationThis 2,500-hectare plantation is located within the Mount Kinabalu UNESCO World Heritage site, and is surrounded by 130 million-year-old rainforest, the world’s oldest. Incentive planners can arrange activities such as nature treks to spot birds and animals or a cultural retreat that takes in a rainforest stroll, winemaking, native cuisine and a cultural show. Teambuilding exercises, horseback riding and mountain biking are available.www.sabahtea.net
