LANGKAWI
Where is it? Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands dotted through the Andaman Sea, 30km
off the coast of northwestern Malaysia near Thailand. Malaysian Airlines offers a dozen flights daily from Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysian teams with Singapore Airlines to provide up to ten daily flights from Singapore.
THE BEST HOTELS
Tanjung Rhu Resort
Flanked by limestone outcrops on the beach, the 136-room Tanjung Rhu Resort offers
corporate event planners its Convene Experience at the purpose-built Pavilion Meeting Room. The pavilion can seat 100 delegates theatre style, complete with a “technology butler” to ensure its state-of-theart equipment runs smoothly. The resort offers incentive tour itineraries, including mangrove tours and nature walks. Entertainment options include theme parties, beach
barbecues and a luxury sunset cruise.
www.tanjungrhu.com.my
The Andaman Langkawi
Commanding a stretch of beach on Datai Bay and adjacent to an 18-hole golf course,
business event organisers will find 186 deluxe rooms and suites featuring spacious balconies,
separate living areas and private bars. The resort specialises in theme nights for up to 80 delegates. Popular themed selections include a Malay cultural night at the Gulai House, Tribute to Our Rainforest at the Jungle Lodge and a sunset beach barbecue. For more formal functions, The Andaman Ballroom can host banquets for up to 200 delegates.
www.theandaman.com
Four Seasons Langkawi
This resort of 91 pavilion rooms offers an ideal location for small conferences and meetings.
Function rooms overlook the Andaman Sea and the resort’s tropical gardens. Conference
organisers can choose from: the 125 sqm Congkak Room for 80-person meetings or 120-guest receptions; the 75 sqm Gasing Room for meetings of between 16 and 24 people; or The Veranda, which can accommodate up to 200 guests for a reception.
The spaces feature cutting-edge audiovisual equipment and high-speed internet access.
Gala dinners can be held in the resort’s gardens or on the beach.
www.fourseasons.com/langkawi
Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort
The 238-room Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort recently completed renovations on 182 of its rooms. It features five function rooms, including the 715 sqm Grand Ballroom, which can hold banquets for 250 guests or conventions for 440 delegates in theatre style. The Meranti and Merbau Rooms have meeting and function space for between 50 and 250 participants, while the
smaller Melor and Raya Rooms can host gatherings of between 20 and 50 participants.
www.sheraton.com/langkawi
Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa
Facing 500 metres of private beach, this newly opened resort has 202 guestrooms and suites with panoramic views of the Andaman Sea. Event planners have the choice of seven conference and banqueting suites, all with modern facilities. The venues are suitable for corporate meetings, business seminars, cocktail parties and dinners. The Grand Ballroom can host receptions for up to 400 guests, theatre-style conferences for up to 400 people, and dinner-dance functions for as many as 180 guests.
www.westin.com/Langkawi
INCENTIVE IDEAS
BEST FOR…TEAMBUILDING
Sabre Corporate Development Sabre holds teambuilding activities for corporate groups looking for an alternative to half-day convention breakouts or a multi-day group retreat, with indoor and outdoor activities focusing on communication skills, problem solving and survival skills. The
choice of activities includes the ‘Langkawi Odyssey’, a contest between teams that makes use of the island’s sights and sounds, while ‘Survivor’ goes to further extremes in the jungle or on a deserted beach. Less strenuous activities include samba drumming and team painting. Sabre’s clients have included Federal Express, Nestlé, IBM, Compaq and Citigroup.
www.sabrehq.com
BEST FOR…THE ADVENTUROUS
Wild Asia
For incentive planners looking for some hairraising adventure, air trekking is an activity that sends groups gliding on ropes through the rainforest canopy to the forest floor.
Training is held on-site, where experienced guides explain the safety harnesses and proper technique. The last leap is a 120-metre drop to the top of a tree, 40 metres above ground, and a final abseil back to earth.
www.wildasia.net
BEST FOR… SAILING TRIPS
Stardust Cruises
The Stardust is a replica of an 18th-century, seven-sail schooner. Teamwork is the essence
of sailing with each individual playing a key role in the journey. Individual responsibility,
cooperation, conflict management and problem solving are all addressed in the programme. But there’s also time to relax with a barbecue and cocktails at sunset.
www.langkawi-sailing.com
BEST FOR… CONFERENCE GROUPS
Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre
The 71,400 sqm Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC), next to the airport, is Langkawi’s largest exhibition and convention venue. With 22,000 sqm of meeting space and
a 49,400 sqm outdoor area, the US$8.7 million facility can host 3,000-delegate gatherings.
MIEC also has capacity for 1,200 at seated dinners. MIEC has hosted the Langkawi international Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition, LIMOS International Motor Show and the International Tourism Show and Melaka Carnival 2005. There are plans to build a shopping centre and link it to the
airport departure terminal by escalators.
www.virtualmalaysia.com
