Northstar

DESTINATION | Busan, SOUTH KOREA 42 May-Jun 2017 meetings & conventions • mcmag-asia.com + AIRPORT TRANSIT Busan Gimhae International Airport connects to Seoul (Incheon) as well as to China, Japan, Hong Kong, and various Southeast Asian cities. Taxi to Haeundae: $28-32. + TAXES Value-added tax (VAT), 10%; Service tax, 3-10%; total tax on hotel rooms, 10% + CONTACT Korea Tourism Organization, (82) 33-738-3301~3307; koreaconvention.org Unique venues Busan's resplendent skyline, from the rolling mountains to the skyscraper-edged beaches, is best admired from out at sea. Tiffany21 is one of the larger cruise vessels available for charter and offers two scenic routes for day and night; the open deck accommodates up to 88 persons and features its own sound system, so you can easily arrange for live music performances and parties on board before adjourning indoors to the lower deck. For a venue with an inherently creative, artistic atmosphere, look no further than F1963. Formerly a wire factory, the space was reborn as a "cultural factory" comprising a used bookstore, art gallery, and cultural space, for the Busan Biennale in September 2016. The exhibition hall accommodates up to 700 people, while the 452sqm open-air central square holds up to 300 and comes fully equipped with podiums and chairs, a projector, sound and lighting systems. The Bay 101 Yacht Club at Haeundae's Marine City boasts sleek, exclusive spaces that can serve as a starting or ending point to activities on the water, be it a sightseeing cruise or a team-building activity. Planners can choose between the indoor Marine Hall, which seats up to 240, or the Roof101 rooftop space which can host a banquet for 270 or reception for 700 – both come with 360-degree views and in-house catering. Perched on Busan's Dongbaeksom Island and surrounded by forests of camellia and pine, Nurimaru APEC House's 3-storied design was inspired by the traditional Korean pavilion and is a prestigious venue for conferences and VIP events. Located less than 2 kilometres from BEXCO, the conference rooms can host up to 240 people while the 1,035sqm Peace Courtyard is ideal for cocktail receptions. Taking the maritime experience to a deeper level, SEA LIFE Busan Aquarium makes your function or celebration an immersive one: the underwater glass tunnel can be set up as a buffet line before guests dine together with 35,000 marine animals, including gigantic grey nurse sharks. Private educational presentations, divers' shows, and even pre-event shark dive experiences can also be arranged. The main space can hold up to 80 for a banquet or 200 for a reception. Clockwise from top left: Tiffany 21 cruise ship; F1963 was a wire factory and now a cultural factor; Nurimaru APEC House; The Bay 101 Yacht Club

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