MICE Hotels in Bali

Post date: Apr 13, 2010 6:43:19 AM

Originally published in March 2008 (Photos from top left: Westin, Grand Hyatt, InterContinental, Ritz Carlton)

Looking for hotels to hold conferences and corporate meetings in Bali is not a problem, as there are many well-known brand-name hotels on this island. Here’s an excerpt of MICEreview’s site evaluation of key convention hotels in Bali:

The Westin Resort Bali, together with the adjoining Bali International Convention Centre (BICC), has a whole range of function rooms to cater to different needs. The Nusantara ballroom can comfortably sit up to 600 people classroom style. Unlike the hotels reviewed above, all the function rooms and hotel lobby here are housed within the air-conditioned complex... The Westin Resort Bali may not offer stunning views or exotic architecture, but it gets MICEreview’s vote for offering comfort and logistic convenience to event organisers and delegates.

Grand Hyatt Bali’s Convention Centre has up to 25 meeting rooms of various sizes to cater to different group requirements. The Karangasem Ballroom, with high-ceiling and built-in full-sized stage, houses up to 350 people classroom style... whilte the Grand Ballroom can accommodate up to 800 people classroom style. Many beautiful sites within the hotel compound are available for theme parties and dinners… but they are spread-out all over a sprawling piece of land, so getting from one point to another can be quite a bit of a walk.

InterContinental Bali Resort offers a ballroom that can fit 300 people classroom style, supported by several smaller rooms for breakout sessions. The hotel comes across looking a tad old and is in need of renovation. Perhaps the most attractive reason for hosting an event here is not what is within this hotel, but outside. Just a few steps away from the hotel’s beachfront is the famous stretch of Jimbaran seafood restaurants that serve delicious, fresh seafood barbeques. Perfect for a dinner on the beach (watch-out for the waves) while watching the sunset on the horizon.

The Ritz Carlton Bali (now known as Ayana Resort & Spa), best suited for group sizes from 30 to about 150, is perched on a very private, hilltop site in Jimbaran overlooking the Indian Ocean. Here, conference delegates can pamper themselves in the high-tech aquatic spa pool or indulge in a wide range of body treatments at the resort’s Thalasso Spa facility. The most breathtaking theme dinner location is at the pool near the bottom of a cliff with crashing waves right below. Thumbs up for ‘wow’ factor, but from a logistic point of view, it would be a nightmare for event organisers because there is no elevator to transport people or materials from the top of the cliff to the pool, which is several hundred steps below.