Wakened Giant

CHINA

When I visited Shanghai and Beijing recently, I was floored by the changes China has seen in the last few years. Pudong, on “the other side” of the river from old Shanghai (also called Puxi), was nothing but rice paddies only a dozen or so years ago. It's now a sea of high-rises — they say the national bird is the building “crane.” What will be the tallest building in the world is now under construction here — the 101-story World Financial Center. Also new in Pudong: the Museum of Science and Technology, a strikingly bold and modern building; a beautiful opera house; and, so visitors and residents can get a handle on the building explosion in the city, the Museum of Urban Planning, with its scale-model of the city, present and future. All are available as venues for special events.

The Shanghai Museum in Puxi, with its world-class collection of Chinese art, is a must-see for any visitor, and it, too, has elegant space for special events.

While in the city, I stayed at The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai. In 2004, it was named “Best business hotel in China” for the fifth time and “Overall best business hotel in Asia” for the third year by Bloomberg Television and Business Asia magazine, and “No. 1 best employer in Asia” by The Asian Wall Street Journal. The satisfaction of employees was evident, if the service I received during my stay was any indication. The staff is warm and attentive, never forgetting my name, nor, apparently, anyone else's in my group of a dozen or so travelers.

The Ritz-Carlton held some pretty special events for my group. We took part in a traditional tea ceremony in one of the meeting rooms. We learned to make that exquisite Chinese dietary staple, dim sum, in a class in the kitchen with Master Chef Ho Wing. We saw a Chinese acrobatic performance at Shanghai Centre Theatre, adjacent to the hotel. One afternoon we had a walking tour of the French Concession area of old Shanghai that made the history of the city come alive for us.

On our first morning in China, a bespoke tailor and his staff took our measurements. Two days later, beautifully tailored silk jackets magically appeared in our closets, ready for our foray into nearby Jing'an Park for a tai chi lesson with the hotel's resident expert.

We also had an unforgettable evening aboard the new Sheng Rong Guo Ji luxury cruise boat (owned by Shanghai Dragon International Cruise Co.), catered by The Ritz-Carlton. The lights of the city were as spectacular as the food. (One example: a fountain of flowing white chocolate, with fresh strawberries waiting for your dipping). Traditional Chinese musicians entertained while the ship, which accommodates 250 guests on its four decks, cruised the Huangpu River.

And just in case all this wasn't enough, General Manager Mark DeCocinis treated each of us to a ride though the streets of Shanghai in the sidecar of his vintage red '38 Chiang Jiang motorcycle. Lest you think I was treated this way only because I'm special — well, your group's special too, and these are all offerings the Ritz-Carlton makes available to all of its group clients.

For a look at another great Chinese city, we took a short flight to Beijing, the seat of government and center of much of the vast country's political history. The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Pearl Market were all on our itinerary, as was the spectacular Great Wall, an easy day trip from Beijing.

Ritz-Carlton has two hotels in the works here: the 256-room Ritz-Carlton, Beijing, Financial Street will open in fall 2006 in the heart of the city's emerging financial district. And the Ritz-Carlton, Beijing is a 320-room hotel with a planned opening of 2007 in China Central Place on Chang An Avenue. The 591-room JW Marriott, Beijing, will also be part of the same mixed-use complex, opening in 2007 in plenty of time to host guests attending the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

On China Eastern Airlines' daily flights to Shanghai and Beijing from Los Angeles, meals are orchestrated by the attentive staff in business class so that, once they dim the lights and you recline your seat to near-flat position, you can sleep comfortably, refreshed for morning arrival.
— Barbara L. Brewer

Old World, New Technology

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA

Picture this: a small European town — population: 140,000 — bisected by a river. On one side of the river, in the Old Town, special-event venues include the mountaintop Hohensalzburg Fortress, dating from 1077, and the Stiftkeller St. Peter, dating from 803, said to be Central Europe's oldest restaurant. There are charming squares with statues and fountains in the center and cafes and shops on the perimeter, and the cathedral where native-son Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was baptized. In 2006, the city will celebrate his 250th birthday.

But across the river (there are several pedestrian bridges) is a three-year-old congress center that's all glass and steel and high-speed connectivity.

The five-story Salzburg Congress Center, opened in June 2001, has a glass façade and, in the 35,000-square-foot ground-floor exhibit area, a ceiling with spotlights made of Swarovski crystal. The 15 flexible meeting rooms, for up to 1,350 people, all have ISDN lines, individual lighting and temperature controls, and touch-panel AV controls. There are booths for simultaneous interpretation, and wireless connectivity is available throughout the building.

Within walking distance of the convention center are 1,200 four- and five-star hotel beds. The 163-room Sheraton Salzburg, which is linked to the facility and provides its catering, has four meeting rooms for up to 150 people. Across the street is the 187-room Crowne Plaza, with five flexible meeting rooms for up to 280. In the Old Town, the 69-room Hotel Goldener Hirsch, part of Starwood's Luxury Collection, offers the upscale Bibliothek boardroom.

Options for off-site events include Hohensalzburg Fortress. Chamber music concerts are presented here most evenings; concert and dinner packages are available. And the Stiftkeller St. Peter can accommodate groups of up to 350 people for lunches or candlelight dinners with live musical entertainment.

One venue, Hellbrunn Palace and Trick Fountains, has several rooms that can be booked by groups. But the main attraction is the formal gardens and grottoes, where water power animates the statues, a mechanical theater, and even the sounds of birdsong; a planner can obtain permission to manage the hidden controls for a group. There are also the trick fountains with which the 17th-century builder Prince-Archbishop Markus Sittikus — he of the weird sense of humor — drenched unsuspecting guests.

Apparently, Salzburg had cutting-edge technology even back then.
— Rayna Skolnik

Island Haven

BERMUDA

Combine the fine pink sand of Bermuda's beaches with its dramatic cliff formations, coconut palms, and gently rolling dunes that slope toward the shimmering blues of the Atlantic and you have quite a setting for motivational meetings.

The island is as British as its motherland — if not more so. Pubs, red telephone boxes, and cricket matches are all part of the culture. Horse-drawn carriages share the streets with zippy mopeds, and men wear shirts and ties with Bermuda shorts and “long hose.”

Located 650 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., the island has one of the highest standards of living in the world. Pastel cottages painted in Wedgwood blue, pale apricot, and lime dot the island. And one of Bermuda's greatest assets is its citizens, who go out of their way to make visitors feel welcome.

The island boasts a well-oiled infrastructure that includes on-time air connections and clearance of U.S. customs before departing the island. English is the official language, meetings and conferences are tax deductible for U.S. companies, there are no local taxes, and the Bermuda and U.S. dollars are interchangeable. There's also great golf.

The 593-room Fairmont South-ampton, offering panoramic views from atop the highest point in Bermuda, surrounded by lush gardens and a challenging golf course, is the island's most complete full-service resort. It reopened on April 15, 2004, after a seven-month closure to recover from Hurricane Fa-bian. The $60 million hotel project also includes restorations begun prior to the hurricane. There is 30,000 square feet of flexible meeting space here, accommodating up to 1,500 people. The property also boasts a 31,000-square-foot Willow Stream Spa.

Fairmont's other Bermuda property is the historic 410-room Fairmont Hamilton Princess, with 19,000 square feet of meeting space, on the edge of Hamilton Harbour. After undergoing more than $32 million in renovations, the hotel is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year.
— Andrea Graham

Québec City and Beyond

OH, CANADA!

Long a favorite of meeting and incentive planners, Québec is the only walled city in North America. Built by the British in the 18th century to fend off a possible attack from Americans, the wall remains intact and surrounds Old Québec. The city's maze of narrow, winding streets contains more than 100 cafes, bistros, restaurants, and shops, many on Rue Petit-Champlain, considered North America's oldest shopping street.

While the dominant culture here is French, Anglos (as French Canadians like to call those who speak English) have no trouble communicating.

A number of historic structures offer memorable venues for special events. At the Plains of Abraham, a park marking the British siege of the city, groups can spend an evening re-enacting a council of war, dining in the style of the 18th-century British military, and hearing about a soldier's life.

The city has 12,000 hotel rooms — but a standout and city landmark is the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac. Overlooking the sloping streets of Old Québec, the century-old hotel offers 618 elegantly furnished rooms with splendid views of the city and the Saint Lawrence River. On site are 22,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space on two floors, including 14 conference rooms and a ballroom for up to 1,000 people. The property has three restaurants, a fitness center, and an indoor pool.

Within a half-hour's drive of the city one can find wilderness parks, white-water rafting, hunting, fishing, skiing, snowmobile trails, dog-sledding, and snowshoeing.

The Charlevoix region offers a change of pace. About 90 minutes up-river from Québec City, Charlevoix is known for its natural wonders and for the many artists who call it home. There, the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu, established in 1899 and completely rebuilt in 1929, provides a relaxing retreat overlooking a broad expanse of the Saint Lawrence River. The 405-room resort has a bustling casino as part of the property. Le Manoir contains 12 meeting rooms on the same floor; Amerispa, with 22 treatment rooms; and an 18-hole golf course that is being expanded to include nine more holes.
— Megan Rowe

Sydney Shines

AUSTRALIA

Glorious weather, fantastic food, natural beauty, marvelous hotels and venues, excellent infrastructure, and boundless creativity are all part of the package with destination Australia. In a Harris Poll from August 2004, Australia was the No. 1 choice on the list of countries that Americans would most like to visit if money were no object. Australia has topped that list for eight consecutive years.

Sydney Olympic Village is a thriving commercial and residential complex in Homebush, a Sydney suburb. All venues are in use for sporting, entertainment, corporate events, meetings, and conventions. Olympic Park features two Accor Hotels, the Novotel and the Ibis.

It's impossible to do a program in Sydney and not take advantage of its enviable waterfront location. Sydney Harbour, Manly Beach, Bondi Beach, and the waterfront venues give endless options. Dinner, lunch, cocktail cruises, or a treasure hunt in a sailing ship are all readily available. Captain Cook Cruises has two of Sydney Harbour's most impressive ships. The MV Sydney 2000 accommodates 700 people on three levels, giving the option of having different entertainment and cuisine on each level. For smaller groups, Solar Sailor is powered completely by solar energy. Sydney Showboats also offers entertainment on the Harbour. Its paddlewheel ship accommodates 250 and has a fun floor show. East Sail arranges teambuilding in its yachts. One option is to have a treasure hunt on a sailing ship. Team members learn about Darling Harbour sites, search for clues, and help sail the ship.

One not-to-be-missed option for group fun is a city tour with Sydney by Diva. The guides, drag queens dressed stylishly in white go-go boots, mini-skirts, and jackets patterned with a map of Sydney, will show any group a rollicking good time.

Qantas Airways celebrated 84 years of flying and its 50th anniversary flying to the States last year. The airline has 23 gateways from the United States, including flights with its code-share partners.
— Helena Miele

Ultimate Retreat

FRENCH POLYNESIA

To experience French Polynesia is to fall under the spell of island fever in its most enchanting form. The flight time is only two-and-a-half hours longer than to Hawaii, and these islands receive fewer visitors in a year than Hawaii does in 10 days. While French Polynesia may represent the ultimate exotic dream destination, travelers need only a valid passport to make this dream come true.

A visit to the region begins and ends in Papeete on the island of Tahiti. Throughout the islands, there is an abundance of four- and five-star resorts and several high-end properties are under development.

A half hour's ferry ride or a few minutes on Air Tahiti, the domestic inter-island carrier, transports visitors to the lush and dramatic scenery of Moorea. Restaurants, sightseeing, and shopping complement an impressive array of accommodations.

On Taha'a, home of the Tahitian vanilla industry, the island's sole property offers the ultimate in seclusion. Le Taha'a Private Island & Spa offers only 60 bungalows, with views of crystalline lagoon waters or neighboring Bora Bora.

A 15-minute helicopter flight departing from the resort's beachfront landing pad transports guests to Bora Bora where spectacular Mount Otemanu presides in its emerald green glory over the island's famous lagoon.

French Polynesia's unique over-water guest bungalows offer direct access to the sea for swimming and snorkeling via a private stairways. Many also feature a glass coffee table for viewing the colorful fish below.

All major resorts typically offer complimentary nonmotorized water sports to guests and can also organize activities and excursions such as circle island tours, inland Jeep safaris, shark and ray feeding outings, and visits to black pearl farms and ancient temples.

Island cruising is an attractive and affordable option.
— Lauren Haro