Australian PCO's get a taste of Singapore with Pan Pacific Hotels Group

With such a diverse range of properties in Singapore, Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) gave eight top Australian PCO's a real taste of the destination and showed how well they can cater for large or small groups. The educational trip was supported by Singapore Tourism Board and DMC Pacific World along with airline partner Scoot who provided a premium experience with their ScootBiz class service.   

The delegation arrived into Changi Airport from Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coast where each of the flights were independently greeted at the gate for a seamless disembarkation and buggy ride through to a dedicated immigration facility with a fully serviced lounge. Once the Jet Quay team had collected the bags it was only minutes before we were on-board the hotels private transfer to Pan Pacific Singapore.   A first class service well worth considering for small groups and VIP's.

Pan Pacific Singapore was home base for the group to enjoy five-star luxury accommodation with access to the Pacific Club located on level 38 boasting outstanding views of Singapore. The property has one of the most stunning ground floor lobbies which was unveiled as part of the 80 million dollar hotel refurbishment only a few years ago.

Day one included a tour of the Pan Pacific Singapore's extensive meeting & event facilities with the capacity to cater for most group sizes across its 27 meeting rooms and 790 accommodation rooms. Conveniently located within walking distance to many attractions and importantly the Suntec Convention Centre for groups attending or holding larger conventions. The team at the impressive Suntec Convention Centre work seamlessly with key partners including Pan Pacific Hotels Group which was evident when the PCO's arrived to see their company logos and personal welcome on the giant interactive screens at the front of the building.

An educational trip to Singapore would not be complete without a tour of Gardens by the Bay which was the next stop. The waterfront gardens are part of 101 hectares of reclaimed land in the centre of Singapore providing locals and tourists with access to a nature experience like no other. The precinct also offers unique venue space for special events and first class dining options including Pollen where the group was hosted for lunch.

A site inspection of PARKROYAL at Beach Road & Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road provided the delegates and opportunity to see that excellent meeting facilities and corporate accommodation offerings were available in the city centre of downtown Singapore. Not to mention another selfie photo op from the rooftop pool with the city skyline as a backdrop.

The evening included a dine-around at Pan Pacific Singapore where there are many dining options including Keyaki Japanese Restaurant, where most of the group experienced their first Sparkling Sake  and variety of delicious dishes were shared at award-winning Hai Tien Lo which offers some of the best traditional Cantonese food in Singapore. Dessert was served at Edge, one of the larger restaurants in the hotel, comprising seven open kitchens. For me, this was memorable for maybe the wrong reason when one of our playful Singaporean hosts insisted I try a dessert made from Durian fruit (a must try... never forget experience), let's just say it's an acquired taste.

Day 2 started with a site inspection of the historic Capitol Theatre, a beautiful 800 seat theatre with the lower level seating removable with the press of a button, watching the transformation to a flat floor was entertaining itself. This is a great special event venue option oozing with character to help you provide a memorable event experience.

As an attraction, activity or alternative special event venue space the group were then taken to the National Gallery Singapore which oversees the largest public collection of modern art in South east Asia. The Gallery is housed in two national monuments, former Supreme Court and City Hall with some limited event space available to groups and some additional exclusive members only offerings.

The team at PARKROYAL on Pickering had prepared an amazing private buffet lunch with chefs on hand to describe some the beautiful food designed to demonstrate some of the options groups can enjoy. The hotel is somewhat an art piece itself, featuring a hotel-in-a-garden concept with sustainable features that have earned it a Green Mark Platinum score, the nation's highest green rating.  The 367 room hotel is located at the key gateway to the CBD and Raffels Place financial hub close to bustling Chinatown. There are several conference and meeting rooms with the largest capacity catering for up to 500 delegates theatre style or 300 seated for a banquet.

After an active day of site inspections the group enjoyed a Bumboat ride on the Singapore river which provided yet another aspect of the city and a very pleasurable way to arrive for dinner. Disembarking right outside the iconic Merlion, the team from Pacific World and Singapore Tourism Board greeted the group and showcased local dishes including famous Singaporean Chilli Crab at the Palm Beach Seafood restaurant. Escaping the hustle and bustle, an after dinner cocktail or two was enjoyed high up at 1-Altidude, a rooftop bar boasting the tallest point in Singapore giving everyone yet another photo opportunity.

Day 3, two more properties to see today with first up being Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore which offers convenient access to a variety of entertainment and retail options, including one of the city’s largest malls, showcasing well-known luxury brands. It is also a five-minute drive from the Singapore Botanic Gardens, which has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The group had the luxury of taking some time out selecting a treatment of their choice in the hotels Spa which is connected to the mineral water swimming pool. This boutique hotel with 206 accommodation rooms caters well for groups up to 200 cocktail style and has five meeting rooms.

PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road is located in the heart of Little India, the neighbourhood’s colours and aromas provide an alternative local experience close to some of the most famous religious sites in Singapore. The newly refurbished ball room is ideal for 4 star MICE groups up to 450 and several other meeting rooms cater for smaller groups from 30 to 120 in a classroom style configuration.

A very special lunch was experienced in a private room at the popular Si Chuan Dou Hua restaurant within the hotel with authentic Sichuan and Cantonese delicacies skilfully prepared by a team of experienced chefs. The group also experienced traditional afternoon tea and Teh Tarik (pulled tea) made from black tea and condensed milk. 

Without a doubt the three day famil left the PCO's with a lasting impression of Singapore as vibrant city with the capacity to stage major conventions, corporate and association conferences. Pan Pacific Hotels Group's host and Jerremy Baker, Director of Business Development, welcomes enquiries from anyone interested in Singapore or indeed any of the groups Australian and International destinations. Contact Jerremy on +61 2 9260 3087 or email to request a call back.