Team-building Bintan

Just 45 minutes away by high-speed catamaran ferry from the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in Singapore, the Indonesian island of Bintan offers luxurious retreats, spa treatments and championship golf courses. Bintan Lagoon Resort has regular corporate training clients who use its facilities. Among them is ST College, a training division of Singapore Technologies. It works in tandem with the business units, offering team building programmes to help train ST employees to meet current and future business needs. Since September 2003, ST College has enlisted Bintan Lagoon to assist in organising an orientation programme for one of its customers at Focus Adventure Training Centre. The orientation programme is organised quarterly and at the group level, where participants from various subsidiaries come together. Says ST College assistant manager Evelyn Tan: "In the area of knowledge management, ST College produces case studies which capture valuable lessons learnt by our companies through the years of our operations, highlighting local perceptions of work values and business sense." Training experiences "Adults learn best when it is problem-centred and action oriented. The activities are designed to ensure full participation and draw lessons from the training experience. Team bonding, group trust, communication, personal development and confidence are strengthened." Tan adds. "The learning is therefore transferred by linking training experiences to actual work practices. While it is reasonably intense and demanding, it gives participants an opportunity to network and form linkages that will benefit them immeasurably in their working career." The organisation uses Bintan due to Focus' comprehensive range of outdoor adventure training facilities. Elements include high and low ropes courses, team challenge rescue and the team challenge pyramid tower. Most of the team-building programmes last two days and take place from Friday to Saturday. This gives staff the opportunity to extend their stay at the resort. When evening comes, participants let their hair down to enjoy a night of seafood at the Nelayan Restaurant and music at the Horizon Lounge. Adds Tan: "Besides using the Bintan Lagoon Resort, we also frequently use the Nirwana Gardens Resort. It has complete conference and banquet facilities. Most of our bigger events such as HR and finance conferences are held here. For those who are seeking refuge from the city, Mayang Sari Beach Resort is the place. The ambience is soothing and laid back, with the resort set against calm, crystal clear waters and silky sand beach." Venue for business function Tan says the venue offers a relaxing environment which is ideal building greater camaraderie. "We call it 'traincentive', a combination of intensive training programme and a incentive trip. I enjoyed every trip there because of the quality service that I received from the hotel staff. They pay attention to every detail. They are sincere and friendly. " Says Tan: "It offered luxurious accommodation choices, fully integrated resort facilities, state-of-the-art conference equipment, along with the most comprehensive outdoor adventure training facilities. All these made it an ideal venue for business functions, exclusive gatherings, and for theme parties." Training activity rates (for a minimum of 15 people) cost US$94 for a half day on low/high ropes, US$146 for a full day of low/high ropes/team and the challenge pyramid, and US$9 for paintball and US$12 for beach olympics.