Event Servier Annual Conference
Venue Sheraton
Organiser CYTS
Delegates 700
Date October 13–19




The brief
Hosting the pharmaceutical company’s annual conference, with more than 700 delegates, meant the event required a large number of meeting rooms.

Challenges
Servier had requested 16 meeting rooms for the conference, but the resort only had 12 function rooms in total. This meant the hotel had to convert four private rooms in the restaurants into meeting rooms. This was challenging because it was important that meetings held in the private rooms did not disturb normal dining hours.

Another key requirement was an outdoor barbecue gala dinner. Since the event was held during the tropical storm season, a contingency plan was needed. Despite heavy rain the day before, the client was willing to take a chance and insisted on proceeding with the al fresco dinner.

The rain did finally stop at noon on the day of the barbecue, leaving only four hours for preparation of the dinner at 6pm, which was catering for all delegates.

Execution
As well as the gala dinner and conference, the group took advantage of a range of activities on offer in the hotel, including cooking classes, tai chi and yoga. Teambuilding exercises were also arranged, including a relay raft-building event.

Comment
China CYTS MICE Services senior account manager Elise Xiao, who worked closely with both the hotel and the client, said she would not hesitate to use the venue again.

“Our attendees experienced five-star hotel service and the Sheraton also helped us overcome difficult challenges. We were tortured by the weather, but we survived and succeeded, and the client was thankful for a wonderful event.”