NEWS RELEASE Immediate Release Desaru Coast Offers a One-Stop Luxury MICE Destination for MICE Travelers Destination Resorts Joins MyCEB to Expand Malaysia s MICE Industry THAILAND, 2 OCTOBER 2012 Jointly with Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), Destination Resorts is participating at the Incentive Travel & Convention Meetings Asia (IT&CMA) Exhibition held at the Bangkok Convention Centre Bangkok, Thailand from 2 4 October 2012 at Booth No. D1, Exhibition Hall, Level 22. Destination Resorts is set to add another exciting dimension to Malaysia s MICE and business tourism landscape with Desaru Convention Centre, the country s state-of-the-art MICE tourism hub amidst the region s most exciting integrated luxury destination, Desaru Coast. Spanning majestically over 3,900 acres of land along a pristine 17km beach, overlooking the South China Sea, Desaru Coast is located on the south-eastern coast of Johor, Malaysia, and is easily accessible by land, sea or air via The Senai International Airport in Johor, or the Changi International Airport in Singapore. The development of this integrated luxury destination is being carried out in three phases, with Phase 1 set to be completed in early 2015. Built as a multi-purpose convention venue, Desaru Convention Centre will be fully equipped to cater to corporate functions, meetings, exhibitions and entertainment events. With an exhibition space of approximately 1,200 sqm 2 and banquet area to accommodate up to 1,000 persons,
the convention centre also provides 4 meeting rooms, VIP lounges and pre-function rooms, which are furnished with premium facilities and features within a landscaped courtyard. It is further complemented with exceptional services by an experienced MICE servicing team, ensuring that each event is handled professionally and successfully for a complete MICE experience. Strategically located within the heart of Desaru Coast, the Desaru Convention Centre is conveniently nestled between two world-class accommodations the Sheraton Desaru Resort and Plantation Hotel, easing mobility and accessibility throughout the convention centre. It is also located adjacent to the Riverwalk a landscaped lifestyle retail and F&B village, with retail outlets, dining and entertainment venues sprawling on the side of the river within the hub. MICE participants are able to move freely and conveniently throughout the hub, enabling full and effective utilization of time in addition to capturing an overall enriched experience. Also located within the hub, MICE participants can look forward to a vast variety of outdoor team building activities and post-conference tours. The two water theme parks Ocean Quest and Ocean Splash are great venues to evoke immersive experiences in a fun way whilst motivating minds and generating ideas. More exciting and engaging activities can also be extended to the pristine beachfront that lines the east of Desaru Coast. Apart from MICE convenience, there are two designer golf courses an international championship 27-hole with signature beachfront holes, and an 18-hole, by renowned champions Ernie Els and Vijay Singh respectively, which will offer an exciting break for golf enthusiasts. In addition, MICE participants at Desaru Coast can also expect to indulge in luxurious offerings of the integrated destination. The first Amanresorts in the country, the Aman Country Club & Villa, as well as Datai Desaru Resort promise a distinctively superior experience of subtle luxury for them to unwind and
relish. Commenting on Destination Resorts integral role in expanding Malaysia s MICE tourism sector, Nadziruddin Basri, Managing Director of Destination Resorts said, We are showcasing to event organizers from around the world that Desaru Coast will be ready to host international events and delegates by the first half of 2015. We believe business groups are constantly looking for something new, to try a different venue and take a step beyond the conventional. As an all-in-one MICE destination, Desaru Convention Centre is the answer. We promise each guest a spectacular and unforgettable experience here at Desaru Coast, with luxury and excellent hospitality as the fundamentals. Other developments under Destination Resorts portfolio include Puteri Harbour and LEGOLAND Hotel in Nusajaya, Johor. Scheduled to open by early 2013, Puteri Harbour is part of the luxury waterfront development in Nusajaya overlooking the Straits of Johor and boasts the internationally renowned hotel brand, The Traders Hotel Puteri Harbour. It is located adjacent to a quay-side lifestyle and retail complex, which also houses the Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park that offers an indoor theme park, featuring Hello Kitty Town, Thomas & Friends, Barney and Bob the Builder amongst others, plus a themed family restaurant of popular local cartoonist, LAT. The LEGO-themed hotel, LEGOLAND Hotel is set to open its doors in 2014 and will be the fourth LEGOLAND Hotel to open worldwide and the very first in Asia. In the northern region of Malaysia, Destination Resorts is set to develop Teluk Datai, Langkawi, into a premier ecotourism destination, adding onto its award-winning The Datai Langkawi. -The End-
Images of Destination Resorts key developments are available for download at. Destination Resorts at Incentive Travel & Convention Meetings Asia (IT&CMA) Exhibition, Bangkok Destination Resorts representative will be present at the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) booth, located Booth No. D1 and will be pleased to attend to any enquiries. For further information, please do not hesitate to contact: Lau Yin May Destination Resorts Email: communications@destinationresorts.com.my Note to Editors: Further information on Destination Resorts and Its Developments
About Destination Resorts Destination Resorts was formed by the Malaysian Government s investment arm, Khazanah Nasional Berhad (Khazanah), to be an internationally recognized investor and developer in premier integrated lifestyle destinations to enhance Malaysia s tourism portfolio. Destination Resorts serves as a catalyst for the development of Malaysia s luxury leisure and tourism sector by providing relevant expertise focused on investment, development and management of world-class premier resorts, hotels, residences and attractions. Currently, its key investment portfolio comprises of developments in Johor (Desaru Coast and at Nusajaya) in addition to Kedah, Langkawi (Teluk Datai). About Desaru Coast, Desaru, Johor A development spanning over 3,900 acres along a 17-kilometer beachfront, Desaru Coast promises an array of luxury resorts, hotels and golf residences, complemented with differentiated leisure and entertainment offerings to include designer golf courses, retail mall, theme parks and a premium multi-purpose convention centre. The development of Desaru Coast will be carried out in three phases, with the first phase targeted to open in the first half of 2015.
Phase 1 of the integrated destination Desaru Coast offers four luxury resorts and hotels, premier golf residences, complemented with a world-class multipurpose convention centre, a retail village, two designer golf courses and theme parks The key developments in Desaru Coast comprise a 6-star luxury resort, the Aman Country Club and Villas via a strategic partnership with Amanresorts International Pte Ltd. Situated along the pristine
beachfront, the Aman Country Club and Villas promises a high-end exquisite yet intimate experience with a combination of club rooms and villas for sale and lease back. Another luxury resort that promises a premium experience is Datai Desaru Resort which is inspired by the 5-star award-winning The Datai, Langkawi. Nestled on a hilltop, its 64 suites and 36 villas are envisioned as a majestic getaway for discerning guests. Sheraton Desaru Resort, situated on the east side of Desaru Coast, offers a breathtaking view of the South China Sea and convenience to its guests with its direct access to the beach. This internationally established 5-star hotel will boast signature F&B outlets overlooking cascading pools across the cornice to the splendor of the sea. Next to Sheraton Desaru Resort is the Plantation Hotel, which is designed in harmony with nature to emphasize on the balance as well as development of its natural surroundings. It will consist of approximately 393 rooms with a unique underwater dining experience as it is surrounded by the marine park. Desaru Coast is poised to change the landscape of golf tourism in Malaysia, offering two designer golf courses by distinguished golfers, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh. Golf enthusiasts will have the opportunity to challenge their game on the Ernie Els designed, championship 27-hole golf course with 3 distinctive 9-hole courses that offer amazing beach and sea views. The Els Club Desaru Coast is destined to become the destination for golf aficionados. There will also be developments of prime golf residences located adjacent to the golf courses that offer a spectacular 360 view of the surroundings. Located at the heart of Desaru Coast is the Riverwalk, a landscaped retail mall and resort village that integrates the attractions and theme parks in Desaru Coast. Bringing to life the ambience of canal-side cities such as Venice, Italy and San Antonio, USA, The Riverwalk plays host to signature retail and dining outlets and entertainment venues sprawling at the side of the river.
An artist impression of the Lake View at Riverwalk, the retail mall and resort village located in the heart of Desaru Coast The Riverwalk also leads to the Desaru Convention Centre, is a multi-purpose venue that is ready to cater for a variety of events of all purposes: corporate functions such as seminars, management briefings and product launches, as well as private social gatherings for example wedding receptions and birthday celebrations. Approximately 1,200 sqm2, the banquet area and exhibition space of and 4 meeting rooms are equipped with world-class facilities and tools, topped with exceptional services by an experienced MICE servicing team, ensuring that each event is handled professionally and successfully for a complete MICE experience, all at one place. The convention centre is also
purposefully built to link both the Sheraton Desaru Resort and the Plantation Hotel to ease mobility and accessibility of the guests and participants. About the development in Nusajaya, Johor Strategically located at the south-western tip of Peninsular Malaysia adjacent to Singapore, Nusajaya is Asia s newest regional city, and also the largest fully integrated urban development in South East Asia. It is easily accessible via a 20-minute drive from Malaysia-Singapore Second Link and 25 minutes away from the Senai International Airport. As part of the luxurious waterfront development of Puteri Harbour in Nusajaya, DRH s portfolio consists of the development of a 4.22 acre quayside lifestyle and retail complex which houses the Traders Hotel and the Family Theme Park, complemented with fine dining restaurants, alfresco cafés and retail outlets. The Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park is Asia s first indoor themed park that offers a series of unique experiences such as the Hello Kitty Town, lovable characters from The Little Big Club, such as Bob the Builder, Barney and Friends, Angelina Ballerina, Pingu the Penguin and Thomas and Friends, and also the first ever animated dining experience inspired by the popular local cartoonist, Lat. About Traders Hotel, Puteri Harbour, Johor In partnership with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, the Traders Hotel Puteri Harbour is part of the luxurious waterfront development of Puteri Harbour, Nusajaya. The 283-room 4-star business hotel is built on top of a quay-side lifestyle and retail complex and is located adjacent to the Family Theme Park that offers an indoor theme park, whilst surrounded with a breathtaking view, overlooking the harbour. The Traders Hotel Puteri Harbour is the third hotel of the Traders Hotel chain in Malaysia.
An impression of the rooms at Traders Hotel, Puteri Harbour a meeting of world-class comfort and well-designed functionality About LEGOLAND Hotel, Nusajaya, Johor DRH will be developing and building Asia s first LEGOLAND Hotel in Nusajaya, Johor, the fourth of the LEGO -themed hotel to open worldwide following Billund (Denmark), Windsor (United Kingdom) and California (USA). LEGOLAND Hotels are the first ever hotels designed from a child s
eye view, with imaginative theming and a host of child friendly features from low counters in the restaurant to treasure chests full of LEGO in the themed bedrooms Pirate, Kingdom or Adventure. Scheduled to open its doors in 2014, LEGOLAND Hotel is strategically located adjacent to the LEGOLAND Theme Park Malaysia where the LEGO experience is further extended with the colour, fun and interactivity of LEGO stamped throughout the hotel, from the spectacular entrance right through to the restaurant and bar.
LEGOLAND Hotel Nusajaya, Johor, Malaysia will be the fourth LEGOLAND Hotel worldwide and the very first in Asia About Teluk Datai, Langkawi, Kedah Located to the north-west of Langkawi Island, set amidst centuries-old rainforest, sparkling limestone outcrops and serene beaches, is Teluk Datai. Aimed to be a premier eco-tourism destination, the Teluk Datai master plan includes the development of 6-star and 5-star luxury resorts and villas, cliff-top bungalows, golf-view and sea-view bungalows as well as 5-star condominiums and homes overlooking the Andaman Sea. Destination Resorts portfolio in Langkawi includes The Datai, a fully operational award-winning 5- star resort hotel that was also recently awarded the TripAdvisor s 2012 Travelers Choice Award. It offers world-class amenities, luxurious spas and boasts its own peaceful stretch of white sandy beaches overlooking the stunning waters of the Andaman Sea.
Steeped in centuries old vegetation and limestone landscape, Teluk Datai s The Datai is the destination of choice for romantic getaways and a luxurious retreat The Golf Club, Datai Bay, which is also part of the master development plan at Teluk Datai, was voted The Most Scenic Golf Course in Malaysia, and also the Best Top Ten Golf Course by Asian Golf Monthly magazine in 2009. It is currently undergoing an upgrade to an 18-hole golf course, designed by distinguished golfer, Ernie Els. Upon its completion in 2013, it will offer the finest
golfing experience nestled amongst towering tropical trees and will be the perfect retreat for avid golfers. For more information on Destination Resorts and its developments, please visit http://