Business Events Australia Newsletter – March 2015
ICC opens doors with fly-through launch
International event planners and decision makers can now see why the currently under-construction International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney is being dubbed Asia Pacific’s premier business events precinct thanks to the launch of a virtual fly-through video. The video showcases what will be Australia’s largest and first fully-integrated convention, exhibition and entertainment centre, and how delegates will move between and connect with the various spaces available at the A$1.1 billion development in Sydney’s Darling Harbour. Click here to watch the video.
Dreamtime 2015 location announced
Tourism Australia has named Adelaide, South Australia, as the host city for Dreamtime, its premier corporate meeting and incentive business-to-business trade marketing event and showcase. Dreamtime – to be held in early December, will bring more than 100 of the world’s top level travel buyers including agents, incentives houses and companies that book incentive programs and events to Australia for a five day experience. For two days the delegates spend time touring the host city and meeting with local tourism and business event operators in a series of scheduled appointments. The following three days will be spent in smaller groups on an educational visit to another Australian destination. Click here for more information.
Adelaide gives delegates an experience to remember
The Adelaide Convention Bureau has launched its new online booking portal for delegates seeking pre and post conference touring experiences, which have long been known to be a lucrative addition for destinations hosting business events. The portal, the winner of the inaugural Australian Association of Convention Bureaux (AACB) Innovation Award is an Australian first. It provides visiting delegates with a one stop shop link to peruse a host of experiences around South Australia to enjoy outside their conference program via an easy booking system, maximising and prolonging their time in South Australia. Click here for more information.
New Barrier Reef experience for business delegates
Heli Taxi in partnership with Cruise Whitsundays has launched a new fly & snorkel experience. The private experience allows small groups to enjoy breathtaking views over the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef before landing at the private pontoon at Knuckle Reef for their snorkeling adventure. Guests will have exclusive use of the private pontoon and can snorkel with hundreds of fish, view coral up close as they travel on the semi-submersible before relaxing with a glass of sparkling wine and optional picnic on the sundeck. On the return journey, guests will then get a chance to see world-famous Heart Reef before returning home. Click here for more information.
The Star, Sydney, adds conference break-out space to its Event Centre
The Star Event Centre has enhanced the conference capability of its $100 million state-of-the-art venue with the addition of a 700 delegate theatre-style plenary room. The new breakout space is located on the balcony of the Event Centre with views of the Sydney Harbour and city skyline. The space features permanent theatre style seating and the addition provides opportunities for unique and innovative functions, which can be supported by incomparable technology for an exceptional conference experience. Click here for more information.
Novotel Barossa bullish for business events
The Novotel Barossa Valley Resort has just completed a $2.5 million refurbishment of its Conference Centre, meeting the growing demand for conferences and events in the award-winning South Australian wine region. The centre can host up to 250 delegates and the 140 guest rooms, of various levels of luxury, ensures delegates stay in modern comfort. Bespoke packages are available for additional team building activities including speciality tastings with artisan winemakers in the Tasting Room or an off-site experience at neighbouring wineries including Jacob’s Creek and Chateau Tanunda. Click here for more information.
Largest regional conference and events centre opens amongst the vines
The Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley Conference and Events Centre has officially opened its doors for business. The Centre boasts a 1,650 delegate capacity and is Australia’s only full scale, gourmet food and wine event experience. With a light filled design, the Centre offers a combined 2,000 square metres of pre-function, meeting and exhibition space catering for up to 1,600 delegates. Built over looking garden spaces and golf course greens within Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, the Conference and Events Centre is set to inspire creativity and connection for all delegates. Click here for more information.
The Ternary offers a new dining experience in Sydney
New concept restaurant, The Ternary brings a bespoke style of dining to Sydney’s restaurant scene boasting three distinct but integrated offerings for business groups – the Grill Kitchen, the Asian Kitchen and the Wine Bar – all in open theatre-style kitchens. Perfect for small incentive groups or reward for high achievers, the restaurant is suitably located in Darling Harbour offering uninterrupted views of the Sydney city skyline. Click herefor more information.
Adelaide opens heritage hotel
Adelaide’s highly anticipated 5-star boutique hotel, the Mayfair Hotel, has opened its doors. The heritage-listed building is an iconic gateway between both busy Rundle Mall and Adelaide’s exciting Riverbank Entertainment Precinct. The Mayfair Hotel can cater up to 100 delegates and offers seven versatile spaces designed to meet a range of meeting requirements. In addition, the hotel has 170 elegant guest rooms and suites, a rooftop terrace and lounge, gym, restaurant, bar and café featuring locally inspired menus. Click here for more information.
Sheraton Sydney expands to cater for business events industry
Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Darling Harbour, together with owner M&L Hospitality, has embarked on a $200 million redevelopment plan that will see the hotel significantly expand. The investment will see an additional third tower increasing the total number of rooms to 905 and a brand new 4,800sqm of convention, meeting and event space that will feature floor to ceiling glass which will maximise natural light and offer uninterrupted views of Darling Harbour. Scheduled for completion by May 2016 for the convention space and August 2016 for the new tower, the new look hotel wll also include new bar and restaurant concepts that will complement the property’s heritage and the Four Points by Sheraton Brand.
Click here for more information.
Whitsundays private escape opens
Palm Bay Resort on Long Island offers the perfect private Whitsundays escape and it’s business as usual with the resort fully operational and taking bookings. Palm Bay Resort is a beautiful boutique resort nestled in a secluded cove in the neck of Long Island. Palm Bay Resort offers spacious villas with stunning views over the Whitsunday Passage and Coral Sea. Guests can enjoy an exclusive, intimate experience, boutique accommodation with the convenience of self-catering. Click here for more information.
Maritime museum gets three new event spaces
Sydney’s Australian National Maritime Museum will see three new event venues open within the $11 million Warships Pavilion on Darling Harbour. The new venues will bring the Museum’s total capacity to 2,000 over 11 spaces. The Pavillion will incorporare an open air rooftop terrace with capacity for 100 cocktail-style, a multi-use, naturally lit spce with capacity for 200 and a “cinematic experience” space for 50. The Pavillion is due to be completed in September 2015. Click here for more information.
Spotlight On…
Geoff Donaghy is Director of Convention Centres for leading venue management specialist, AEG Ogden, which operates convention facilities in Australia, Asia and the Middle East. He is also CEO of International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), which is on schedule to open in December 2016 as Australia’s premier, integrated convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct.
You’ve recently launched a ‘fly-through’ as part of a package of innovative solutions to market the centre, what was the reasoning for going to such lengths to create these items?
It’s extremely challenging to market something that is still under construction. Waiting for the doors to open to understand what’s on offer simply isn’t an option for our clients who may be booking their events up to 8 to 10 years in advance. We need to create assets that allow our clients to visualise what will truly be a world class event precinct and understand the connectivity and flexibility aspects of the venues within it. We believe we have taken an innovative approach to marketing ICC Sydney. Our animated fly-through is an exciting and powerful tool that brings ICC Sydney to life, showcasing the diversity of options available and how delegates and visitors will interact with the precinct. We have also created a transferable model of the precinct, which includes retractable drawers that house detailed floor plans to show detail the variety of spaces and how they connect. By mixing tactile and digital assets, clients receive a much richer understanding of what they can expect once we are open. The overwhelmingly positive response we have received from clients to date has made the investment worthwhile.
If you had to sum up ICC Sydney in one sentence, what would it be?
We’re inviting the business events industry and rest of the world to experience world class at ICC Sydney because we have a world class destination, we have the reputation of world class venue operator and we are unveiling a world class venue.
Sydney is a world class city with outstanding attractions – but for a local like yourself, what are some of the hidden gems that business visitors don’t always get to experience unless they are ‘in the know’?
The business events world is a busy one in any capacity so we are very fortunate to have one of Sydney’s hidden gems located right across from ICC Sydney. The Chinese Garden of Friendship in Darling Harbour is a wonderful place of tranquillity in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the CBD. Its beautiful gardens and calming water provide the perfect place to reflect and recharge. From Circular Quay, past the under-development Barangaroo site, along Darling Harbour, where ICC Sydney is located, and on to Pyrmont, Sydney’s Harbour foreshore walk is teeming with things to do and see. From galleries and museums to bustling food markets, restaurants and bars to historical artefacts and parkland, it’s a diverse stretch of world unique waterfront that’s well-worth exploring.
Australia offers some of world’s best dining experiences. What are some of your recommendations?
I travel extensively for business and am privileged in being able to enjoy some incredible restaurants around the world. I can safely say that Sydney is one of the world’s best dining destinations. In fact I challenge anyone to visit a harbour-front establishment, including the famous Sydney Fish Markets, and be disappointed by our variety of fresh seafood and contemporary dishes. The bistros and bars of my neighbourhood, Balmain, just a few kilometres from ICC Sydney are also favourites of mine for a relaxing evening with some great food and wine.
Aviation Update
- Australia and China have expanded the Air Service Agreement to allow more flights between the two countries. Air China will plans to launch a new nonstop service from Beijing to Melbourne four times a week from 1 June 2015
- Qantas plans to offer a daily service from Brisbane to Tokyo from 1 August 2015
- Qantas has increased its capacity on its Hong Kong to Sydney route by deploying a larger A380 aircraft (484 seats) and replacing the existing B747 (364 seats) to cater for strong demand between 25 March and 12 April 2015
- Singapore Airlines plans to launch its new premium economy product on its A380 Singapore to Sydney service from 9 August 2015 and its B777-300ER Singapore to Sydney service from 12 August 2015
Adding The Wow Factor –Spectacles To Add To Your Business Events
April 4-13, 2015 – Adelaide Food & Wine Festival
http://adelaidefoodandwinefestival.org/home/
April 27-May 2, 2015 – Targa Tasmania
May 14-17, 2015 – Noosa International Food & Wine Festival
http://www.noosafoodandwine.com.au/
May 22-June 8, 2015 – Vivid Sydney
For further information, images or video content visit www.businessevents.australia.com or contact:
Kyra Washington
FleishmanHillard
Phone: +61 421 582 621