Readers' Choice: Best new venue

As part of CEI Asia's annual Readers’ Choice Awards, here we celebrate the best new venues across Asia Pacific—as voted by you, our readers.

International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney


Sydney’s newest crown jewel, the 35,000- sqm ICC Sydney is a promising addition to the city’s events facilities. Opened in December 2016, and built on the site of the previous Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, the venue has kept its foot on the gas already introducing improvements including a private cocktail lounge funded by American Express opened in November, and a VR-driven marketing initiative that allows visitors to tour the venue from the comfort of their headsets.

ICC Sydney has also enacted several progressive CSR initiatives. Notably, a co-branded venture with Sydney Water that utilises specially crafted, reusable glass bottles that has already saved 780,000 litres of water and 6,656 kilograms of plastic.

The venue’s inaugural year was packed with highlights, including TEDxSydney in June; and the Sydney International Boat Show in August, welcoming 63,000 visitors.

JW Marriott Hotel Singapore
 South Beach


As the first JW Marriott hotel in Singapore, the JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach is a work of art. Devised by French designer Philippe Starck, the space features a unique Grand Ballroom outfitted with a floor-to-ceiling LED wall, the largest in Singapore, and further illuminated by 11,520 overhanging lights making up
the space’s Forest of Lights installation.

A distinct location, the 634-room hotel includes 20 meeting and function rooms, and 1,765 sqm of event space, much of which is housed within restored, historic structures dating back to the 1930s.

A high water mark of the hotel’s premier year, in August, Ferrari’s 70th anniversary parade ended at the property, where a record-breaking 157 of the manufacturer’s finest sports cars were displayed to the public. Q2 also saw the opening of Spa by JW, and several new dining and cocktail venues within the hotel.

The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur

Opened in May 2016 at KL Sentral, The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur’s first full year is 
in the books, and was highlighted by Icon magazine’s 10th anniversary gala dinner in May, Malaysian financial giant CIMB’s Hari Raya open house in July, and the launch event of the Auto Bavaria BMW 7 Series in November.


As one of Kuala Lumpur’s most versatile event spaces, the hotel is a mainstay for corporate events, product launches, and fashion and lifestyle events alike. The property itself boasts the largest guest rooms in the capital, plus 10,000 sqm
of function space and 16 meeting rooms spaced across four floors.

Setting its facilities apart from the competition is the 1,300-sqm Grand Ballroom, packing a stunning 270-degree digital canvas made up of 47 LED panels. The set-up is touted as the first of its kind in Asia, and gives innovative, immersive events a place to spread their wings.