12th September 2012
business events news
editor: Jill Varley
12th September 2012 business events news Luxe a must THERE’S nothing like a glamorous affair to put a positive spin on things. So hats off to Luxperience’s Rosemarie Sama for having the forethought to put the luxury event on Sydney’s expo calendar. Buyers and guests were greeted by an enormous gilt edged mirror and bowls of fresh spring flowers, while exhibitor booths were stylishly decorated with touches of colour and glamour. Tourism New Zealand’s stand proved popular both as a meeting point - and for the excellent expresso coffee and bowls of Whittakers chocolates they offered! Jill.
Marriott refurb deal SETTING a new benchmark with a $20 million refurbishment, the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa has for a limited time only, group room rates that start from $195 including breakfast. The offers is available when a conference or event is booked for 2013 and the deposit paid by 21st December this year. The extensive makeover includes an upgrade to all conference rooms and facilities, guest rooms, lobby, front entrance area, lagoon pool, a new ‘grab and go’ style eatery Java+ and new interactive restaurant, Citrique. Marriott’s director of sales and marketing, Ken Duddy says the Gold Coast is the perfect destination for conferences and events. “Our event space is almost limitless - from small boardroom meetings, to welcome cocktail parties by the saltwater lagoon and extravagant themed affairs in the grand ballroom, there is no request too big or too small as we tailor your event to match both your needs and your creative vision,” he said.
business events news
info@businesseventsnews.com.au www.businesseventsnews.com.au 1300 799 220
A pitch & a Poken at Luxperience LUXPERIENCE, the new threeday business exchange for the high end experiential travel and incentive industry, opened its doors on Monday. Held in Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal, a preopening Thought Leaders session and an elaborate opening event was held on Sunday, officially opened by Roza Sage, MP (representing the Premier of New South Wales) and Rosemarie Sama, founder of Luxperience. Sama said that the expo was a fulfilment of a three year dream and was particularly exciting as the first time event had sold out. “We have put together an event to create a community which will go well beyond a few days,” Sama enthused. “We’ve tried to think about all the things that people don’t like about trade shows, and have done away with them. “For instance, exchanging the need to carry around tons of paper brochures with nifty little Poken devices which enables ther user to exchange contracts and information electronically and then download it to a computer.” Luxury, Sama said is one of the most overused terms in the travel industry in which flat screen TVs in rooms and several hundred thread count Egyptian cotton bedlinen are no longer luxuries. “Luxury now is all about bespoke, unique adventures and experiences. Exhibitor Aashish Vyas, who’s vice president of Pure India Luxurious Escapes, described the exhibition as “ nice and compact” in comparison to other shows.
“What I particularly liked is that exhibitors and buyers were invited to mix socially, he said. “Not something that usually happens at these events, because as exhibitors we are often sidelined. “After all, we do pay the bills!” Silversea’s Karen Christensen said she hoped the show would be sustainable, adding that, “perhaps, it would be better to hold it every two years. “I don’t think our budget is growing as much as the shows are!” she said.
EEAA’s young stars THE Young Stars program operated by the Exhibition and Event Association of Australia will hold its first Victorian event at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre next Tue 18 Sep. The scheme was launched in Sydney last month, with younger members of EEAA committing to an ongoing program of “thought leadership and professional development”. EEAA gm Joyce DiMascio said the Young Stars Program had been warmly embraced by under35s in the association, who have formed an active committee. The Melbourne event will include three presentations (from MCEC ceo Peter King; MarieClaire Andrews and Josh Dry from Showgizmo; and EEAA gm Joyce DiMascio) and also offer excellent networking - and it only costs $35 for EEAA members and $65 for non-members - to attend email memberservices@eeaa.com.au.
Page 1