As part of CEI Asia’s inaugural Editors’ Choice industry excellence report, here we celebrate the best new venues across South East Asia:

The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur

Embracing a tech-savvy approach to meetings, conferences and events, The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur has become a shining star in the city’s events firmament since opening earlier this year.

In the past, many hotels were designed with meetings and incentives as something of an afterthought. These days, the sector is much more of a consideration with new hotels striving to find fresh ways to bridge business and leisure. The St. Regis KL manages to achieve this balance in a range of innovative ways.

The hotel is designed with two lobbies; one with direct access to the hotel and another with direct access to the function spaces with an exclusive reception area for event guests. This allows smooth movement and well-secured, private entrances for high-profile delegates.

Events, meanwhile, have been taken to a higher level in the hotel’s 16 dedicated spaces encompassing nearly 10,000 sqm. The centrepiece is a 1,300-sqm grand ballroom, fitted with an LED digital canvas made up of 47 screens that form an LED curtain wall surrounding the ballroom, allowing guests a 270-degree visual feast.

Since launching in May this year, the hotel has already played host to a wide range of events, from haute couture fashion shows to luxury car launches.

Conrad Manila

Even its most ardent defenders would admit that easy movement is tricky in busy Manila. The new Conrad Manila bypasses issues of traffic congestion, however, by dint of its proximity to the SMX Convention Center in the convention and exhibition hub within the Manila Bay area.

The hotel, which opened in June this year, is also conveniently located close to the city’s international airport, another major plus for visiting groups.

Comprehensive MICE facilities include a ballroom for up to 1,000 people, a junior ballroom for 450, seven meeting rooms, a boardroom and the Verandah outdoor function space for up to 400 guests. There are many other draws including spellbinding views of Manila Bay from many rooms, the lobby and an outdoor herb garden. Another plus is the venue’s dining options, the star of which is China Blue, led by celebrity Chinese chef Jeremy Leong.