19th September 2012
business events news
editor: Jill Varley
19th September 2012 business events news Smart idea MOST of us have been to a bountiful Chinese banquet, where the eight to 12 courses keep on coming until you are fit to burst. Taiwan Tourism’s lunch on Tuesday at The Eight modern Chinese Restaurant in Sydney Chinatown’s Market City was just such an event. A feast that began with Peking duck, stir fried lobster and wok seared wagyu, glistening mushrooms and bok choy...... and it kept on coming for the delighted attendees. Still, there was much left over which The Eight cleverly packed up into separate containers and encouraged the departing guests to take a ‘doggy bag.’ My lobster with noodles today was delicious! Jill
Tangalooma push TANGALOOMA Island Resort, located about an hour north of Brisbane, is today promoting itself as an ideal location for conferences, corporate events, team building and retreats. The property has a range of special offers available, including a $45 day delegate deal plus residential delegate discounts, and activities also include whale watching, beachside bonfire gala dinners, and even art classes See the last page of today’s BEN for more information.
business events news
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Support for Glebe Island Expo FOLLOWING news (BEN breaking news Mon) that Sydney’s Glebe Island is to host an interim exhibition facility during the redevelopment of the Darling Harbour precinct, EEAA general manager Joyce DiMascio said she was pleased at the NSW government ‘s committment to business continuity. “Identifying Glebe Island Expo is an important milestone, but even more important now is getting the finer details and speeding up the process as this decision is months overdue,” she said. “There are tens of thousands of people whose income is derived through the staging of exhibitions - the benefits also spill over to hotels, hospitality and retail all over the city....exhibitions and events generate around 2 million visitors a year to Sydney so are crucial to the economy” The proximity of Glebe Island to the city, DiMascio said, is a good solution for the Sydney International Boat Show, however the relocation of other big events like the Australian International Motor Show may not be suitable. “The reality is that Sydney needs a dual precinct strategy for major events infrastructure - we welcome the Government’s investment in the renewal of Darling Harbour and providing an interim site . “In the future, we’d like it to also consider improvements to Sydney Olympic Park,” she said. Diversified Exhibitions ceo Matt
Pearce said he welcomed the decision to open up Glebe Island but his firm was still not able to begin planning for 2014 events. “We do not yet know who will design and build the facility which still needs to be put to tender. “We can surmise that this process will take at least another two or three months and then we are into 2013 before we can give any firm assurances to exhibitors.” Domenic Genua, marketing and events manager for the Boating Industry Association of NSW, which owns and organises the Sydney International Boat Show, said Glebe Island could present a workable solution. “If we were unable to run the event, we’d jeopardise 7,000 jobs,” Genua said. Debbie Evans, ceo of Reed Exhibitions, which stages Australia’s largest trade exhibition, the Reed Gift Fair, said, “What we need from Infrastructure NSW now is to work very closely and very quickly with the organisers on the detail. Evans said many international exhibitions and events were staged successfully in temporary structures but it had to be a good looking structure with wow factor. The Government has appointed Transfield subsidiary APP to run the tender to design, build and operate the interim facility. DiMascio said EEAA looked forward to working with APP to ensure an optimal outcome from the Glebe Island interim venue.
BESydney to take on management role BUSINESS Events Sydney (BESydney) is to take on broader responsibility and manage booking enquiries for both the newly announced Glebe Island Expo (see main story) and the Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct (SICEEP) until operators of the new facilities are appointed. Infrastructure NSW, which is delivering SICEEP for the NSW Government, will recommend the successful proponent in December 2012 and the operator for the interim facility is scheduled to be announced in March 2013. Infrastructure NSW project director, Tim Parker commented, “BESydney’s team has extensive knowledge of the events market and the expertise to oversee both the enquiry and booking process for both Glebe Island Expo and SICEEP. “BESydney is already bidding on events for 2017 and beyond.” BESydney ceo Lyn Lewis-Smith said her team was pleased to be taking on the extra responsibility. “BESydney will be a one-stop shop for business events.” She said that exhibitions affected by the SICEEP project would have first right of refusal for bookings of the interim Glebe Island Expo, and that it was also anticipated there would be scope for additional events to be secured for the temporary facility.
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