Northstar

Cruise The watermark of today's meetings scene July 2013 Bellavista 12 When it comes to organising an event, be it a wedding, a large-scale annual corporate retreat, a mini incentives programme or a sizeable conference, it may come a point in time where clients are demanding more than just food and beverage, or deciding venues that has natural day light, a breezy outdoor patio large enough to accommodate a cocktail session, or an outdoor sundeck that faces the easterly winds for that breakout hour, in between workshop crunch time. At a time where the integration of fun and business are becoming a predictable norm, events organisers are levelling up their approaches to tackling corporate events or incentives programmes so that they do not become a chapter duplicate or a revisited page from a story of old. Here are some ideas where you can literally push your boundaries and provide an all-inclusive option where you can hold meetings under the sun, Lido theatre by the pool, in a theatre with worldclass audio and lighting system, or have events organised while staying afloat. Stellar satisfaction Like they say, the best idea or creation sometimes comes out of the blue, and when you're on board the SuperStar Virgo, the possibilities of creating a flexible itinerary are endless. If you are an organiser who detests templates, a cruise option will allow for that out-of-the-box, overthe-edge propositions that may just add that spark to your clients' eyes. A midnight buffet under the stars with a live acrobatic act? How about a conference done in the middle of the high seas that can cater some 700 attendees? With Star Cruises, meetings at sea may just carve a new lead into the world of MICE, particularly in Southeast Asia where the concept is taking its next wave to the top spot, in terms of take-up rate. Chef Reinhard Take the Lido theatre for example, with stewarding services that will answer any audience's cravings throughout a performance, event or a talk, one may not even realise that the ship is still on its journey. Star Cruises' SuperStar Virgo has a fine line-up of dining options, from Bella Vista's continental charm to Palazzo's Italian offerings, or the Blue Lagoon's round-the-clock opening hours, delegates and clients can experience the different cuisines to tantalise their tastebuds. Wow factor From doing dinner events on board a cruise to having a full on conference, it may be a hilly task for an organiser to consider, but SuperStar Virgo certainly affords one the luxury of space. To add to that, the liner ups the ante with a mega water slide pool for that break or fun time, away from business. Star Cruises also provides star solutions such as teambuilding programmes for incentives group or corporate retreats, that can effectively improve team communication, bonding, identify attributes and review processes relevant to a workplace environment, through experiential and inspirational learning. The idea of exploring the enormous vessel is an activity by itself but having meetings done at sea will add that wow factor, and higher chance of capturing the audience's attention, within one space, giving better attendance, focus and value to the event. Experiencing these incentives, meetings or conferences while journeying through the high seas also brings to mind that upon arrival, there is a destination to uncover, before heading back on board for more to discover. For more on SuperStar Virgo's Meetings @ Sea offerings, visit www.starcruises.com. Events

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