Dinner at 17: Laguna Bintan Golf Club's signature 17th hole. Credit: Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts
BINTAN - Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts' three properties in Bintan are gearing themselves as post-lockdown travel venues.
Banyan Tree Bintan, Angsana Bintan and Cassia Bintan which are 45 minutes away by catamaran from Singapore have long been popular with Singapore residents seeking a nearby holiday destination for meetings, incentives and family retreats.
The group is hopeful that its three Bintan properties will be able to offer an attractive option to meeting planners who shy away from air travel. The ferry terminals in Bintan and Singapore, catamaran crew and hotel staff have implemented a stringent set of temperature screening, sanitisation and social distancing procedures.
Mr Alpha Eldiansyah, GM of the three resorts, spoke about the process meeting planners can expect when sending RFPs: "Each quote and ensuing contract is handled by a single point of contact within the sales team in Singapore.
"The team members are equipped with cross-resort product knowledge and are able to guide local meeting planners on organising meetings and events across the three properties. For example, we often host many groups from Singapore who stay in Cassia, conduct small meetings in Angsana, and have a spectacular dinner in Banyan Tree.
Cassia Bintan's two-room loft. Credit: Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts
"Having a single point of contact based in Singapore makes for easy communication of event requirements and matching of our resort offerings with the needs of these meeting planners.
"Once the details are firmed up, the events team in Bintan takes over and this team handles all on-site logistics, including the booking of ferry tickets, land transfer arrangements and event coordination.
"Upon arrival at the Bintan ferry terminal, meeting planners and their delegates are greeted in person by the events team. Return land transfer between the ferry terminal and our resorts is also arranged in advance for all delegates. The check-in process is usually also done ahead of time to ensure that the group is able to settle into their rooms as soon as they arrive at our resorts."
The three properties are located 15 minutes by coach from the ferry terminal. Six restaurants offer cross-dining varieties of Indonesian, Thai, European and Western selections. Food is also catered directly from these restaurants for all meetings and events. Buggy transfers between resorts take a few minutes.
An award-winning 18-hole Laguna Golf Bintan championship course, originally designed by Greg Norman, is privately owned and accessible from the resorts.
Cassia Bintan, an apartment-style resort, is offering a MICE Group Package for its fully furnished apartments with kitchenettes. A one bedroom apartment deal starts from S$240 nett per room per night, subject to a minimum of 2 nights (min of 10 rooms). The offer ends on 20 Dec 2020 and includes two free upgrades to a one-bedroom loft apartment; two-way land transfers from Bintan Ferry Terminal to Cassia Bintan; late check-out until 3pm on weekdays for maximum of five rooms; two buffet breakfasts; one lunch and two coffee breaks for two persons; full-day use of one meeting venue with audio-visual support; and free Wi-Fi
Outdoor social distancing set-ups include:
• Fisherman's Table - guests dine in a traditional fisherman's boat and enjoy signature seafood dishes such as wok-fried chilli crab
• Dinner at 17 - a personal chef and waiter serve on Laguna Bintan Golf Club's signature 17th hole
• Kelong Dining Experience - guests dine in a kelong, a fisherman's abode in the ocean where the cocktails and seafood are prepared by a private chef and waiter
A mid-range meeting itinerary package includes:
• Meeting at Banyan Room
• Lunch at Treetops Restaurant
• 1 round of 18-hole golf at Laguna Golf Bintan
• 1 hour of teambuilding activities
• Sustainability activities
• 1 destination dining experience with fireworks