CIM February issue

Print Post Approved PP231335/00018

02 13 FEB

Courting the dragon

Are we ‘China ready’?

Sheraton Mirage Resort and Spa Gold Coast

A view to thrill Official Australian publication for the PCO Association

Business Events Week

All eyes on Melbourne

CAB Audited Circulation 16,663 September 2012 – Readership 58,320 monthly Nielsen Media Research

c&i briefing Suntec Singapore has announced that they will collaborate with leading Malaysia property developer IJM Land to develop the new Penang Waterfront Convention Centre project, in Malaysia. The proposed Centre is a highly flexible 10,000sqm column-free multi-purpose hall. It will be part of the Light Waterfront integrated development which will feature shopping, entertainment and business areas as well as four new luxury hotels.

Copenhagen secured a record 56 international conventions and 211 corporate events in 2012.

“The increasing popularity of Copenhagen is partly due to the fact the city’s growing hotel and conference capacity in recent years, and partly because this city has all the necessary ’hardware’ needed; easy accessibility, great infrastructure, state-of-the-art venues and hotel facilities,” said Steen Jakobsen, convention director at Wonderful Copenhagen Convention Bureau.

event went to support Lifeline and UnitingCare Community Programs.

Thailand’s biggest exhibition and convention centre, Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre, enjoyed a bumper year in 2012, hosting over 800 events and 15 million visitors. Amongst the exhibitions held at the Centre was the 240,000sqm Board of Investment Fair, one of the biggest fairs ever to be held in Thailand.

“2013 is set to be another exciting year for us,” said Loy Joon How, general manger of the Centre.

Prague Convention Bureau has become a partner of the project “Art for Freedom”, which helps children from orphanages in the Czech Republic. The project aims to open the door to various jobs with the help of artists and other professionals, by teaching the children the basics of the craft, inspiring them to be creative and stimulating their imagination.

The Global Business Travel Association Australia and New Zealand 2013 Conference is to take place at Melbourne Olympic Park from September 16-18, with former cricketing great and headline speaker Max “Tangles” Walker opening the conference with a discussion on Sports Travel Management – the innovation, impact and potential opportunities this multi-million dollar industry has on Australia.

The Hunter Valley, Australia’s oldest winemaking region, has been named one of the “2013 Top 10 Wine Travel Destinations in the World” by one of the world’s most respected Wine Magazines, Wine Enthusiast. Ruth Appleby, business tourism marketing manager of Hunter Valley Convention Bureau said the accolade serves “to underline just what a quality destination the Hunter Valley is and this quality extends through to the conference and incentive experiences available”.

Brisbane’s Lifeline Bookfest, in its 17th year at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, has once again attracted record crowds. Organisers of the sale reported a record first day crowd of 60,000, with almost two million books available. Funds from the

Two leading professional exhibition management companies have recently made Thailand their base in the Asia-Pacific, according to the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau. The companies are VNU Exhibitions Asia Pacific, a joint venture between VNU

The Racecourse Drive In Cinema in Sydney will reopen in May 2013 for a three month season. The Drive In is available for private corporate events, product launches, educational events, team building events, networking events and VIP experiences with a maximum of 450 vehicles. There is a VIP area suited for 50 vehicles. ”We have great support from companies wanting to bring teams and stakeholders together in a fun and unique environment suited for families, couples and groups,” said Racecourse Drive In Cinema founder Paul Rosenberg.

The Northern Territory Convention Bureau and 20 of its industry partners will be attending AIME 2013 with a range of exciting new products and initiatives that highlight how corporate social responsibility (CSR) is being put into practice in the Territory. The bureau has identified 15 key CSR partners in the Territory for involvement with Bureau activities including children’s indigenous drumming group Drum Atweme (pictured), as well as for the consideration of conference and incentive planners wishing to leave a lasting legacy.

Exhibitions Europe, an exhibition management company from the Netherlands and Bangkok-based TCC Land, and Asian Exhibition Services, under the US-based DMC Services Group.

The Australian Stunt Academy on Queensland’s Gold Coast has launched a James Bond-inspired experience for groups. The Spy School starts with a helicopter stunt ride to an island location. From there participants are picked up by a jet boat for a thrill ride to an obstacle course, where they will be trained in unarmed combat, firearms handling and most importantly, stealth. The day ends with a limousine filled with cocktails – shaken, not stirred, naturally.

New business events expo, Meetings Show UK, has commissioned independent research into the different sectors of the meetings industry to ensure it delivers a targeted education programme, to be held from July 9-11, 2013 at Olympia, London. The research will pinpoint topics of interest to key visitor sectors and ensure the education programme delivers compelling content, specific to these visitor types. “Education is a key ingredient in our show and not just an ‘add-on’,” said Meetings Show UK, event director Steve Knight.

Fresh Catering has taken over the reins as exclusive caterer at Redfern-based multi-arts facility Carriageworks, launching the new partnership with a temporary pop

2 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

up bar at the venue during the 2013 Sydney Festival. “Together with Carriageworks, we recognise the huge potential this venue has in particular with the corporate market, with its ability to host special events such as the scale and size of Mercedes Benz Australia Fashion Week,” said Fresh Catering’s managing director, Peter McCloskey.

TTG Events has teamed up with international association and event management company MCI Group to launch an “Association Day” as part of its three Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings (IT&CM) events, held in Shanghai, China (IT&CM China); Delhi, India (IT&CM India), and Bangkok, Thailand (IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific). The programme offers “a unique opportunity for these association buyers and corporate travel executives to network with like-minded professionals and share issues and concerns they have in their own organisation, and learn best practices from experts in the field,” according to Robin Lokerman, president Asia Pacific & Americas of MCI Group.

Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre has celebrated a milestone, holding its 25th annual Australia Day Lunch late last month.

Australia’s largest corporate lunch, the event saw 1500 guests mark Australia’s national day with a three-course meal using locally-sourced food, prepared by executive chef Uwe Habermehl and his team.

contents

Glebe Island Expo plans announced Infrastructure NSW has announced that Sydney Harbour Expo@Glebe Island has been selected as the preferred tenderer to build, operate and remove the interim facility on Glebe Island, during the three-year redevelopment of the Darling Harbour precinct, which includes the new International Convention Centre Sydney, commencing in December, 2013.

Sydney Harbour Expo@Glebe Island is the consortium formed by event and equipment hire company Pages Equipment, and includes Echo Entertainment Group, which runs facilities including The Star in Sydney, Jupiters Gold Coast, and Gold Coast Exhibition & Entertainment Centre.

The proposed venue on Glebe Island is bigger than anticipated, with a fully-enclosed and fullyserviced, marquee-style structure of 25,000sqm to be constructed – almost replicating the current exhibition space at Darling Harbour.

“The plan to have one large space undercover was developed in consultation with and endorsed by the major exhibition organisers that use the current facilities in Darling Harbour,” said Infrastructure NSW project director Tim Parker.

“Previously, we asked tenderers for 15,000

sqm of enclosed space, with the extra 10,000 sqm to be available on a temporary basis for the larger shows.”

The additional space can be provided at the same cost to the NSW Government.

“This facility is part of a city-wide interim solution which will keep our important conference, meeting and exhibition industry open for business to ensure Sydney remains the number one choice for events during the Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct construction period.”

Bookings for Sydney Harbour Expo are currently coordinated through Business Events Sydney, however the transition to the new operator will occur next month, with construction of the interim facility is expected to commence mid-year.

04

Industry news

06

International news

10

New Zealand news

12

Cover story — Sheraton Mirage Resort and Spa

14

In the air

15

Technology

16

Melbourne

22

Tasmania

24

Sunshine Coast

29

China

34

Case studies

38

Gold Coast

40

Catering

42

Venue update

44

PCO Association notes

46

Meeting people

47

Calendar

The news was welcomed by Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) general manager Joyce DiMascio who said it meant “the exhibition industry can now get on with planning their events and importantly, ensuring that the thousands of businesses that have been exhibiting at Darling Harbour will have a new home between 2013 and 2016”.

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Melbourne

Getting down to business I

Photo: Verve Portraits.

f, like me, you’re heading down to Melbourne for AIME this month, don’t forget to check out the program for Business Events Week, which is on from February 25 to March 1.

Publisher’s word

A first for our industry, the goal of Business Events Week is to help define the social, academic and economic benefits of the industry, not only for those of us who work in it, but the general public as well. If you’ve ever been met with a blank look when you try to explain what you do for a living, you’ll know that most people have only the vaguest idea of what a business event is, let alone what they contribute to society.

Over the next few years, I’d like to see Business Events Week develop into a truly national event which celebrates and showcases our exciting, vibrant industry. If, between us, we can’t turn this into an event to remember, who can?

Alexandra Yeomans, Publisher

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 3

industry news

Airshow to boost Business Events Week Coast’s credibility as an international business events destination.”

CSR program to help Hunter Valley charities Hunter Valley Convention Bureau has introduced a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program that offers conference organisers the opportunity to incorporate activities into their conference or incentive program that will leave a legacy in the New South Wales region that will remain long after delegates have returned to their and homes.

The Avalon Airshow.

This month’s inaugural Business Events Week (BEW) will include the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition (Avalon Airshow) in its program of events.

2014 (800 delegates); Community Legal Centres 2013 National Conference 2013 (500 delegates), and Parks & Leisure National Conference 2014 (600 delegates).

Business Events Week, to be held in Melbourne from February 25 to March 1, 2013, is designed to showcase the value of business events to both Victoria and Australia, and coincides with the Avalon Airshow, which features a comprehensive line up of international conferences, seminars and symposia for the aviation and aerospace industries in addition to its public events.

The record month follows on the back of announcements that Cairns will host the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in 2014, as well as Corroboree, Tourism Australia’s mega-familiarisation program from the UK and Europe, in 2013.

“Business Events Week is not just for the business events industry; it’s about highlighting the benefits of hosting business events to decision makers in industries ranging from science and medicine to engineering and education,” said Melbourne Convention + Visitor’s Bureau CEO Karen Bolinger.

“The Avalon Airshow is one of the Asia-Pacific’s most prestigious aviation, aerospace and defence events, and is a prime example of how to showcase the latest in innovation and technology to both a trade and public audience in order to achieve business objectives.”

“Our December conference wins were a very pleasing way to finish another successful year for the Centre,” said Ross Steele, general manager, Cairns Convention Centre.

“These wins will ensure the Cairns Convention Centre continues to provide ongoing economic, social and educational opportunities for our region, the State and our stakeholders, something of which we are very proud.”

Club Melbourne Ambassadors honoured

The Cairns Convention Centre has ended 2012 on a record high, with more bid wins for the month than in any December since opening.

Two Club Melbourne Ambassadors have been recognised on the Australia Day 2013 Honours List for their significant scientific and medical contributions.

Professor Peter Hall received the Officer of the Order of Australia for his distinguished service to mathematical science in the field of statistics, while Professor Stephen Davis was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia for his service to medicine in the field of neurology.

Some of the events secured by the Centre include the Tertiary Education Management Conference

The Club Melbourne Ambassador Program is a collaborative strategy supported by the Melbourne

Centre ends 2012 on a high

Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau and the Victorian Government, to bring together industry professionals to support Melbourne’s growth by helping secure and host international conventions and business events.

“We are delighted that they, as leaders in their respective fields, have been recognised for their value to the Australian community,” said Peter King, MCEC chief executive.

Gold Coast to host volunteers Queensland’s Gold Coast will host the 23rd International Association for Volunteer Effort World Volunteer Conference and Youth Forum in 2014, following Volunteering Australia’s successful bid.

Each year thousands of volunteers assist with the Gold Coast’s multi-million dollar major events calendar, including events such as the Gold Coast Airport Marathon.

Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter said the volunteer community “makes a vital contribution to the successful delivery of these events”.

“Major events such as the 2018 Commonwealth Games spur billions in new tourism and city development, positively impacting jobs, infrastructure and the wealth of the community,” he said.

“The 1500 international delegates attending this six-day conference will bring in excess of $3 million to the city, further enhancing the Gold

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Ruth Appleby, business tourism marketing manager at Hunter Valley Convention Bureau, said that many organisations are looking for opportunities to make a donation to a local charity instead of “giving costly gifts to guest speakers or promotional gifts to delegates”.

“Instead of spending the afternoon playing golf or tasting wine together, some organisations may prefer to participate in programs such as the Wyndham Estate Riverbank Rehabilitation project by planting trees or carp fishing or ‘Tikes on Bikes’ – where a team of participants assemble new bikes which are then donated to a local charity to distribute to needy children.”

Palm Cove sets new direction Tourism Palm Cove will align its marketing activities with Tourism Tropical North Queensland to gain better leverage from the organisation’s partnerships with Tourism Queensland and Tourism Australia.

Newly elected Tourism Palm Cove chair Wayne Lapthorne said the membership-based organisation had been buoyed by a hugely successful year at Palm Cove and was keen to reinvigorate its marketing and community activities.

“Four sub-committees have formed to oversee business events, destination/leisure marketing, digital and general Palm Cove activities,” he said.

Business events group chair and general manager of Peppers Beach Club & Spa Palm Cove, Chris Northam, said the collaborative approach started last year with Palm Cove business events operators when they worked successfully with Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef to host a familiarisation in April and Sell TNQ in November.

New Chair for BECA Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre chief executive Ton van Amerongen has been appointed the new Chair of the Business Events Council of Australia (BECA), replacing outgoing BECA Chair, Jon Hutchison.

In other appointments, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre general manager Bob O’Keeffe was made Treasurer, while Simon Baggs, chief executive and creative director of Lateral Event Management, and Matt Pearce, managing director of Diversified Communications Asia, have both joined the nine-member BECA board.

Meanwhile, the BECA Council, which works alongside the Board, also has two new faces, with Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre chief executive Peter King and Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre general manager Adrienne Readings both joining the body.

Welcoming the new Board and Council members, BECA executive manager Inge Garofani said she was delighted at the breadth of experience offered by industry members sitting on the two bodies.

“2013 will be a year of opportunity

for BECA as we continue to focus on the core areas of research and advocating support for business events,” she said.

BCEC reports strong year Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) has backed up its strong 20112012 financial year, in which it achieved a record 134 confirmed conventions, contributing an estimated $110 million into Queensland’s economy and delivering more than 72,000 delegates to Brisbane’s doorstep, by confirming an additional 60 conventions in the first half of this financial year.

The Centre finished the year on a high winning the right to host one of Australia’s leading pharmacy events, Pharmacy Australia Congress 2013 (PAC 13), with an expected 1000 delegates. The Congress is returning to Brisbane in October after an absence of many years, the last three years in Melbourne. This year’s Congress will be held in conjunction with the 4th Global Drug Safety Conference and Exposition – a first time event for Brisbane.

The addition of the BCEC on Grey Street expansion, which opened in January 2012, has paved the

flexible

personal

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.

way for an expansionary business and developmental phase for the Centre, according to Centre general manager Bob O’Keeffe, however he says that the fundamental basis for continued growth is focusing on customer needs, looking after existing clients and researching new opportunities for Brisbane.

Almost 50 per cent of the newly confirmed events will be held in the new venue.

Cairns top choice for international meetings Cairns & Great Barrier Reef is the most popular location in Queensland for international meetings, according to new research.

Director of Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Rosie Douglas said the audited figures released

in the Queensland Business Events Survey for 2011-2012 showed the region hosted the most international meetings of any region in Queensland.

“For that period we had 102 international meetings and 65 per cent of those were from the lucrative incentives market,” she said.

“The results are in line with our marketing approach over the past two years to focus on the incentive market internationally.

“They also reflect the international appeal of our dual World Heritage areas which have been attributed to boosting delegate numbers.

“Good aviation access plays a role in our ability to attract meetings and incentives and we are seeing growth in that area which bodes well for our region to continue to grow this highly competitive market.”

choice

awarded

always MORE The world class, multi award winning Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre is more flexible than ever offering unprecedented choice for events.

Official venue for the G20 World Leaders Summit Brisbane, Australia 2014 Worldwide Convention Centre Team of the Year - 2012 H&J1697

T +61 7 3308 3063 E sales@bcec.com.au W www.bcec.com.au

more personal - more choice

The Centre is owned by South Bank Corporation and proudly managed by AEG Ogden

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 5

international news

Chiang Mai development plan signed Chiang Mai, best known as a cultural tourism destination, aims to reposition itself as a business events destination.

Euromic has celebrated its 40th anniversary in Paris, France, the birth place of the association.

Founded in 1973 by 10 agencies, Euromic has since grown to 36 member and World Affiliate destination management companies.

Throughout its four decades the Association has experienced many milestone events and accomplishments, including early adoption of new technology, pioneering marketing activities, and the incorporation of incentive destinations outside of euromic’s geographical focus.

Euromic member Tom Risbecker, of Risbecker International in Sweden, is credited with first using the term “destination management company” in an effort to differentiate the services his company provided – local knowledge, creativity and logical expertise – from those of ground service operators.

“We’re proud of our history and the progress we’ve achieved, and we also are thankful to those who have helped us get to where we are today,” says Karim El Minabawy, president of Euromic.

“Our Association’s longevity is due to the established nature of our members and World Affiliates and the excellent support we provide to one another.”

The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has joined forces with eight key government and private organisations in Chiang Mai to lay a framework for further development of Chiang Mai as a world-class business events destination.

The framework, decided upon at the Chiang Mai MICE Summit, held in Chiang Mai last month, is also a part of the stakeholders’ efforts to translate the government’s “Chiang Mai’s Year of MICE” into concrete action.

“Chiang Mai is a centre of the Northern region of Thailand with easy connection to a high number of potential neighbouring countries,” said Chiang Mai governor, Thanin Supasaen.

“Despite its huge economic potential, most people still know Chiang Mai only as a cultural tourism destination. As a result, the province’s economy relies mainly on the travel season and lacks an overall business promotion master plan. Our effort to draw a concrete master plan and clear strategy to make Chiang Mai a MICE destination will surely promote development in all areas and generate more income to business operators and locals throughout the year.”

Chiang Mai already has a substantial amount of infrastructure, including more than 33,000 hotel rooms and Thailand’s third largest airport, which will help the city to become a conference and incentive destination.

According to the Chiang Mai MICE Destination master plan, the development will be divided into three phases. In phase one, which begins in 2013, domestic business events will be set as the target while the relevant agencies work together to improve infrastructure. In the second and third phases, to be rolled out by 2017, Chiang Mai will be promoted internationally as a destination capable of large-scale events.

Philadelphia initiates fresh marketing push In a initiative aimed at attracting more global business to Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), the official tourism promotion agency for the US city, has undertaken a marketing initiative designed to promote Philadelphia as a “modern renaissance city,” with open-source assets built around six “stories” that define the destination.

To come up with the campaign the organisation engaged more than 200 individuals over the course of six months in a series of focus groups, work sessions and one-on-one interviews to determine the city’s global message. Participants included residents, visitors and students from the US and overseas. What emerged were six stories of Philadelphia as a modern renaissance city that celebrates freedom and democracy; values innovation and education; nurtures the creative spirit; appreciates outdoor life and sport, and possesses a vibrant street life – all in an accessible and friendly way.

It is hoped that the initiative will improve the global perception of Philadelphia by harnessing the collective voices of the city’s organisations for increased economic development.

“Our goal is to enlist all organisations with a vested interest in attracting business to our city and capturing our share of international visitor spending, to help tell these stories about Philadelphia and what we have to offer the world,” said PHLCVB president and chief executive Jack Ferguson.

Euromic celebrates 40 years International destination management association

6 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

Global exhibition industry continues to grow Results of global exhibition industry association UFI’s 10th Global Barometer survey confirms that the international exhibition industry continues to grow with a majority of companies reporting increased turnover for 2012.

However, there are some signs of slower growth in markets that have held up well in the last few years. For 2013, the Asia-Pacific region now anticipates a slowdown in growth levels to the same level as Europe, while 20 per cent fewer companies surveyed in the Middle East/Africa region saw turnover increase in 2012 from 2011.

The slower growth noted in the Americas in the 2012 survey now appears to have reversed itself. The region is showing the highest proportion of companies anticipating an increase in turnover for 2013. The Americas are currently the only region to declare that the impact of the “economic crisis” on their exhibition business is now behind them.

Industry concerns remain constant with “general economic considerations”, followed by “local competition” and “internal management challenges” at the top. Seventy five per cent of the organisations surveyed included the development of new business activities among their strategic objectives, while 54 per cent of those surveyed expected to expand exhibition operations to new countries.

“While Asia-Pacific has been the main growth area since 2010, the situation there is shifting with slower growth expected in 2013,” said Paul Woodward, UFI managing director.

“Current projections indicate that the highest

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NCT/CIM/Feb

exhibition industry growth should be achieved in the Americas during the next 12 months.

As a whole, the industry remains remarkably dynamic proving that the exhibition media qualifies as one of the top marketing tools for companies aiming to develop their business.”

The resort won the same awards last year, with InterContinental Fiji’s general manager Scott Williams saying it was “an honour” to be recognised, with the accolades showing the resort had “gone from strength to strength” in the nominated areas since it opened.

The 10th Global Barometer Survey can be downloaded from www.ufi.org/research.

“I am exceptionally proud of our dedicated team at the resort who continue to go above and beyond guest expectations,” he said. “The guest experience is always at the forefront of everything our team undertakes and it is of great credit to be recognised by our industry peers.”

Puerto Rico targets high-end events Puerto Rico has recently welcomed several new hotel properties targeting the incentive travel and corporate meetings market, including the Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand property, one of only two in the world.

Located along three miles of coastline in the former setting of the renowned Laurance Rockefeller property, the all-oceanfront 100-room, 14-suite low-rise, low-density resort features indoor and outdoor meeting space including a 1400sqm meeting room, a boardroom and several private dining areas such as Su Casa, a 1830sqm four bedroom villa for private events. It is also home to explorer and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau’s eco-educational program, Ambassadors of the Environment.

“The addition of several high-end luxury properties to Puerto Rico’s hotel brand portfolio underscores the reality that Puerto Rico has truly arrived when it comes to the luxury meetings market,” said Neil Mullanaphy, acting president and chief executive, Puerto Rico Convention Bureau.

“Incentive travel buyers, corporate meeting planners and others who organise exclusive gatherings need to become familiar with all that Puerto Rico has to offer.”

Incentive activities include kayaking in one of the world’s only bio-luminescent bays, ziplining through the rainforest tree canopy, and rum-tasting tours of the Bacardi Rum Factory.

InterContinental Fiji reaches AON finals The InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa has been named as a finalist in the AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards in three of their nominated categories: Incentive Events, Tours and Transport; Restaurants and Dining, and Accommodation Luxury.

The winners of the awards will be announced this month.

MyCEB continues education programme In its efforts to raise the standard of Malaysia’s business events industry, the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) recently organised two seminar sessions for local industry partners, the Best Practice Site Inspections education programme and Researchers Roundtable Session.

Both sessions featured international guests such as Annabel Norris, director of sales – international, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, and Mike Williams, senior consultant of Gaining Edge General, as well as speakers from the Sarawak Convention Bureau.

New standards for Thailand’s Impact Thailand’s Impact Arena, Exhibition and Convention Center, in Bangkok, has recently adopted a range of international ISO standards in an effort to be ranked as one of the top five venues in Thailand.

These standards include security, food safety and energy consumption, and build on Impact being certified TIS22300 by Thailand Industrial Standards Institute in 2009, making it the first Thai venue to have achieved the ISO22300 certification.

Paul Kanjanapas, managing director of Impact Exhibition Management, said the achievements will “enhance Impact’s confidence and create trust with our business partners”.

“We believe that our commitment in development and measures to keep up with the international standard will enable us to host over 800 events a year and be ranked among the top five of Asia’s leading exhibition and convention venues.”

The Best Practice Site Inspection education programme provided participants with the opportunity to role-play while conducting an actual site inspection at various venues around Kuala Lumpur, while the Researchers Roundtable Session sought to inspire and motivate local associations to take up the challenges of organising major business events by giving them valuable insights into process by successful organisers.

The International Events Unit of MyCEB also recently held an International Events Symposium with the objective of building a sustainable events industry for Malaysia. The symposium was attended by 158 local industry players from various fields including events management and organisers, venue owners and government entities, as well as a number of international speakers.

“MyCEB is focused on grooming our local industry partners to enable them to compete internationally through our workshops and

symposiums,” said Zulkefli Sharif, chief executive of MyCEB. “I am confident that with programmes like this, it will definitely boost international confidence hence attracting more international events promoter to bring their events to our shore.”

Queenstown motivates like no other destination The range of activities is diverse and the possibilities for your group are endless. The variety of venues and vibrancy of Queenstown make it a perfect location for your next event.

pure inspiration

queenstownNZ.co.nz 8 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

Come and meet the Queenstown Convention Bureau on Stand #2828 at AIME Contact Jana Kingston on janak@queenstownnz.co.nz or P: +61 3 9551 8968 to arrange an appointment.

nz n ews

‘Middle Earth’ comes to AIME The movie-scene style landscapes and world of experiences that await visitors to New Zealand will be showcased by Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) at the Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) in Melbourne this month.

a great chance to network informally and an opportunity for us to prove that not only do we have spectacular scenery but also world-class food and wine.”

Meetings showcases the diverse range of destinations, venues, products and services available in New Zealand for conferences, meetings, exhibitions, events and incentive travel programmes.

“AIME is the must attend event in the AsiaPacific region for the meetings and events industry and a fantastic platform for us to market ourselves as an appealing and unique destination for incentive travel and for business conferences and events,’’ says CINZ chief executive Alan Trotter.

Visitor numbers to Canterbury rise in 2012

“It has become a not-to-be-missed event for conference and incentive organisers as it provides the opportunity for them to see all of New Zealand under one roof and to make connections with key people who can help them with the planning and execution of their next event,” says event manager Jeanette Stanton.

“We have exhibited at AIME for 21 years, since its inception, and our goal this year is to showcase to buyers the diversity of our product and our unparalleled ability to deliver value for money.”

The expo will also see CINZ promote its 2013 New Zealand Planner and the Hosted Buyer Programme for New Zealand’s own business tourism exhibition, meetings, which is being held in Auckland in June.

“With the popularity of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and the enormous interest that has generated in New Zealand as the home of Middle Earth we’re expecting to have a very busy couple of days in Melbourne,” Trotter says.

CINZ will be working alongside a large number of New Zealand suppliers, including Air New Zealand, Millennium Hotels & Resorts, IHG Hotels New Zealand, the Skycity Entertainment Group, Auckland Conventions, Venues & Events; Rotorua Events & Venues and Claudelands Convention Centre.

Many of New Zealand’s regional convention bureaux will also be exhibiting under CINZ’s “100% Pure New Zealand” banner.

“We want to give people a taste of our legendary Kiwi hospitality so on the first day of AIME we will be inviting all hosted, semi and day buyers to join us in sampling some of our fabulous New Zealand wines,” Trotter says. “It will be

Christchurch and the Canterbury region have celebrated a year of tourism wins, along with an upturn in visitor numbers.

“It’s been another challenging year for our tourism industry but despite that we’ve had some big successes,” says Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism chief executive Tim Hunter.

“The proof of recovery is that all the major Asian markets, plus the United States, are back in growth compared with 2011, and the Australian holiday market looks like it has turned the corner too.

“Lonely Planet’s inclusion of Christchurch in its list of Top 10 cities in the world to visit in 2013 was huge for us. It was priceless recognition of all the hard work that has gone on in Christchurch since the quakes and has the potential to make a major difference to the speed of the tourism industry recovery.”

Meetings 2013 ‘not-to-be-missed’ Organisers of the New Zealand business tourism sector’s biggest trade exhibition, Meetings, to be held at SkyCity Auckland Convention Centre from June 26-27, are adding more value to the event for hosted buyers.

Hosted buyers from Australia will be offered the opportunity to visit Auckland, Taupo, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch or Queenstown after the expo so they can learn more about what is on offer. They will also be offered a networking day in Auckland before Meetings gets underway, and a number of networking events that will allow them to mix business with pleasure.

Visitors to Hobbiton near Matamata can now do movie set tours.

Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ)

Trans-Tasman Talk

Making access easy It’s not just about equality of opportunity.

Accessibility of information as well as physical access means a wider pool of potential delegates and translates into more buyers.

Having spent a significant amount of time in a wheelchair or on crutches lately thanks to a skiing accident, I’ve become very aware of how vital access is in the meetings business.

Conventions and exhibitions are about people getting together to connect and communicate; access underpins that.

The key is thoughtful, informed planning.

Anticipate that disabled people want to use your service and plan accordingly.

Priorities could include reviewing accessibility of your information online and at the event; allowing space for people with mobility devices or assistance dogs in all areas; preparing for them in your emergency and evacuation plans.

Then add to your list aspects such as assistive listening devices, registration for carers and ramps on to exhibition stands.

Your website is a vital marketing tool, but its content may not be available to all your potential delegates. Think large fonts, no acronymns, text alternatives to images. Check out www.w3.org for guidelines.

Venues should profile their accessibility features, particularly if they’ve invested in aids for the vision- or hearing-impaired.

Convention bureaux can make it a part of their city marketing.

Don’t forget the human touch. Rather than have a “special needs” box on a registration form, perhaps ask, “Are you disabled? Do you require any extra facilities?” Assign one or more of your staff to address requests and train your wider team.

Like all journeys, it’s a matter of getting started. The reward for all concerned is more opportunities for more people to connect with one another.

By Jan Tonkin, founder and managing director of leading New Zealand PCO, The Conference Company and vicechair of the IAPCO Training Academy.

10 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

chief executive Alan Trotter says it is exciting time for New Zealand’s business tourism sector, with several major new facilities planned that will open new markets.

“It is hoped that a decision on Auckland’s much needed international convention centre will be made soon,” says Trotter. “Proposals have been shortlisted for building a new 2000 – 2500 capacity convention centre in Christchurch and there’s a scoping study underway for a convention centre in Queenstown.”

“Potentially we could have three major new facilities up and operating within a matter of years, which would really catapult us into the big league.

“Meetings is a chance for us to really cement our position as a top-class destination capable of hosting conferences of all sizes.’’

Five on Christchurch Convention Centre shortlist Five groups have been shortlisted from a total of 22 expressions of interest in developing the Christchurch Convention Centre Precinct.

Millbrook Resort.

phase is for CCDU to complete a detailed business case for the Convention Centre Precinct.

To complement other facilities across New Zealand the government has stipulated that the centre must be able to run three concurrent events and be able to comfortably host 2000 delegates. It is expected that facilities will open for business by March 2017.

Millbrook travellers’ choice Popular conferencing destination Millbrook Resort in Queenstown has been named the best hotel in New Zealand in the 2013 Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice Awards.

Millbrook was also named as one of the Top 25 Hotels in the South Pacific and Top Luxury Hotels in New Zealand.

While the Christchurch Central Development Unit, a division of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority, which is to run the redevelopment project, hasn’t revealed who the five consortia are, it has been reported in the New Zealand media that construction company Naylor Love and Australian partner Hutchinson Builders are one of the contenders.

The annual Travellers’ Choice Hotel Awards recognise the world’s top properties for remarkable service, quality and value. Now in its 11th year, this is the awards’ biggest year ever with entries from over 82 countries worldwide.

The shortlist is believed to comprise of a mixture of domestic and international groups. The next

The resort has picked up a number of other accolades over the last 12 months including

the title of Leading Golf Resort in Australasia for the third year running at the 2012 World Travel Awards in October.

Dunedin redevelopment nears completion The historic Dunedin Centre and Town Hall, which is currently under extensive redevelopment to bring this historic and high-profile venue up to modern standards, is set to re-open at the end of April.

The venue features two auditoriums and a variety of function rooms, suitable for conferences, seminars and small-to-medium tradeshows.

The Town Hall auditorium accommodates up to 2300 people for performances or tradeshows or up to 550 for a formal seated dinner, while the smaller Glenroy Auditorium, at half the size, can cater for 400 cocktail or 200 banquet.

Two months out from its opening, there are already a number of large events booked including the Ingenium Conference and the 5th Global Botanic Gardens Congress.

IN SAMOA OUR CHIEFS MEAN BUSINESS TOO. You’ll always find a warm reception in Samoa.

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Siva Afi or the fire knife dance

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 11

cover sto r y

A view to thrill

Taking advantage of its spectacular location, the newly refurbished Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast is fast becoming a sought after destination for conferences, meetings and events.

If you’ve got it flaunt it – a message Sheraton Mirage Resort and Spa Gold Coast has definitely taken to heart with the completion of its $26 million refurbishment. Set amongst 3.4 hectares of sparkling lagoons and tropical gardens, the Sheraton Mirage is the Gold Coast’s only 5-star resort to offer an absolute beachfront location, making it one of Australia’s most popular conference, meetings and event venues.

The hotel’s 295 rooms, the largest on the Gold Coast, were all refurbished in the early stage of the redevelopment, while the transformation of the resort’s meeting and event spaces reveals a modern and sophisticated facility featuring environmentally beneficial technology, gleaming new high traffic paths, a sophisticated colour palette accenting the vast space, high acoustic ceilings and dramatic lighting effects. Incorporating the latest audiovisual technology, digital signage and with easy access for large equipment or vehicles, the overall result ensures any event, product launch, gala dinner or conference held at the resort is memorable for all the right reasons.

The versatile Mirage Grand Ballroom can accommodate the largest functions with

ease, seating up to 1000 theatre-style, yet can also be divided into five smaller rooms.

The Ballroom offers direct access for vehicle displays, and has fully-integrated state-of-theart lighting and audio-visual systems.

The Mirage Grand Terrace is a spectacular indoor foyer to the Ballroom, with large glazed doors overlooking the sparkling lagoons making it ideal for cocktail receptions and breakout sessions. Providing a similar view, the Boardroom is a formal space for intimate conferences, meetings and private dinners, accommodating up to 20 delegates. The medium-sized Lagoon Room is a beautifully appointed, meeting or banquet facility with split-room capability.

The outdoor poolside venue has been turned into a tropical oasis and is suitable for up to 400 delegates in a banquet setting complete with stage, barbeques and buffets. With its direct patrolled beach access, delegates will experience the sound of the waves breaking on Mirage Beach whilst enjoying the outdoor poolside venue that offers a perfect space to bring an incentive element to any meeting or event.

First impressions count, with the lobby taking full advantage of the resort’s beachside

location. Bathed in natural light and emphasising the stunning views to the ocean, enhancements to the lobby include designer lounge furnishings, a welcoming reception area with natural stone desk and complimentary Link@Sheraton wi-fi and computer stations.

Terraces Restaurant is a gourmand’s delight, with local seafood, sumptuous desserts and a large variety of traditional favourites and Asian dishes served by the hotel’s talented team of chefs in the elegant and expansive dining area, accented with American oak, Blackbutt hardwood and Caesar stone benches.

This modern design has been extended to Pearls Bar which has been transformed into a sophisticated lounge with its rich, deep colour palette and designer furnishings.

Firmly cementing its position as a luxurious beachside resort, the 5-star Sheraton Mirage mirrors everything the Gold Coast does best – understated elegance supported by exceptional service in a world class beachside location, all of which is set to make the resort a favourite destination for the conference, meetings and incentive markets.

For bookings or more information visit www.sheratonmiragegoldcoast.com.

View the video and slideshow in the CIM iPad app.

12 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

in the ai r

Miranda Kerr test drives new chauffeur service Qantas ambassador Miranda Kerr in Los Angeles.

airport to meet their flight. On arrival at their destination, they will be met by another chauffeur service and driven to their hotel, office or home.

Chauffeur Drive will be offered to Qantas passengers travelling in first and business class on flights between Australia to Dubai and London from April this year. Elsewhere on the Qantas network, Chauffeur Drive will be available on flights greater than 12 hours long from July, such as flights between Australia and Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, Santiago and Johannesburg.

Singapore to promote Australia Qantas ambassador Miranda Kerr has stepped out in Los Angeles to help promote the airline’s upcoming Chauffeur Drive service, which will be offered to Qantas travellers as part of its global airline partnership with Emirates.

Passengers will be collected in a luxury vehicle and driven to the

Singapore Airlines has signed agreements with six tourism organisations in Australia in line with the airline’s ongoing efforts to promote tourism to Australia. New agreements were signed with the South Australia Tourism Commission and Destination New South Wales, while existing agreements with Tourism Australia, Tourism Queensland, Tourism Victoria and Tourism Western Australia

Regional Victoria WHERE PEOPLE AND IDEAS MEET…

naturally

were expanded to increase their value and include new markets.

Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific code share

Key markets covered under the agreements include selected countries in Europe and Asia including the UK, Germany, India, Indonesia and Singapore, among others.

Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific have launched code share sales on each other’s services between Auckland and Hong Kong following a strategic agreement between the two carriers. Passengers now benefit from having at least twice as many daily schedule options for travel between Auckland and Hong Kong.

“Australia has always been an important market for Singapore Airlines, and these partnerships serve to strengthen our ties with the country’s tourism organisations,” said Singapore Airlines acting senior vice president sales and marketing, Chin Yau Seng.

“Through our extensive global network we are continuing to promote travel to Australia, enabling visitors to discover the wide variety of experiences that the country offers, from rugged natural wonders to cutting-edge lifestyle offerings.”

Garuda heads to Brisbane Garuda Indonesia will reintroduce services from Brisbane to Jakarta and Denpasar starting August, 2013, after a five year break. The new route is part of the airline’s Quantum Leap strategy, which aims to boost the airline’s competitiveness significantly by 2015.

Bagus Siregar, vice president for Garuda Indonesia Australia, said the new route followed a 20 per cent increase in passenger numbers of Australians flying to Indonesia in the first half of this year compared with the same period in 2011, with “significant growth in demand in Queensland, particularly in the leisure sector”.

“We’re very excited to be able to offer our Queensland customers the opportunity to fly direct to Indonesia on our Boeing 737-800 NextGen,” he said. “Flights will operate six times per week from Brisbane via Denpasar to Jakarta, and cater to both the leisure and corporate market.”

Gold Coast gets Qantas Club

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Qantas has unveiled a new Qantas Club at Gold Coast Airport, with space for around 125 customers. The move follows the carrier commencing three daily return services between the Gold Coast and Sydney in October, 2012.

Qantas is also to expand its Qantas Club at Perth Airport, seating an extra 140 passengers, and conduct a review of its future lounge offering in Perth to help meet the growing demand for premium air travel particularly from corporate clients and business travellers.

14 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

Air New Zealand Airpoints members and Cathay Pacific’s Marco Polo Club members will also have increased opportunities to receive frequent flyer programme and lounge access benefits when travelling between Hong Kong and New Zealand. Air New Zealand’s loyalty customers will also get lounge access when travelling on Cathay Pacific’s connecting flights to and from Shanghai and Beijing via Hong Kong.

Tourism Australia and Virgin boost marketing Tourism Australia and Virgin Australia are to double the value of their current marketing partnership in a bid to further support the growth of Australia’s inbound tourism market.

Under the new arrangement, the two parties will increase their current joint commitments from $6 million to $12 million over the next three financial years, on a range of joint marketing activities, including the promotion of major sporting and business events.

“The extension of our current deal with Virgin Australia is great news for Australian tourism and the extra funds will immediately go to good use in some of our most important inbound tourism markets,” said Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy.

Mile high club holds allure Airline passengers are still quite partial to becoming members of the mile high club, according to travel search site Wego, with 15 per cent of respondents, from a total of 3000 in the Asia Pacific region, saying they had witnessed some form of sexual conduct on an aircraft.

Much debate still surrounds the legality of the practice although research indicates there’s a dependence on individual country laws and also just how visible the act is to other passengers which can fall under “public sex” laws. At least two of Wego’s respondents witnessed couples being escorted by police from flights into Australia as a result of in-flight sexual conduct.

tec h n ology

Top technology predictions Gamification, increased use of event apps and increasingly visual forms of communication are some of the top trends identified by the IMEX Group, organiser of the IMEX and IMEX America trade shows, for the business events industry in 2013.

the cloud” set to fuel further development.

Presentations are set to undergo a revolution too, with the use of Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and, increasingly in the business to business sector, Pinterest, plus techniques such as word clouds are driving new approaches to messaging and communication.

Expect to see “increased use of animation and visual story-telling techniques including video, interactive charts, graphics and ‘3D-like’ pictures, all of which take the pressure off words in an emailheavy world and break through remaining language barriers”.

online, browse ideas, design their own booth area and input their show requirements all in one place.

Kevin Smith, exhibitions manager at Moreton Hire, says the online portal has been designed to make life easier for the organiser and their exhibitors by managing all their requirements online, saving time and effort.

The group’s “2013 Predictions for the Meetings & Events Industry” suggests that gamification, the use of computer game design techniques or mechanics in a website, service, community, campaign or app in order to engage users and achieve goals, is “set to explode in 2013”. However, the report warns that while the “end game – pun intended – is to spur loyalty, info-sharing, competition and excitement, it remains critical to understand audience knowledge, goals and desired results in advance to be successful”.

Moreton Hire streamlines exhibitor experience

Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) has launched a new mobile app, CWT 78 BizDays, which helps meetings planners find the most convenient day and time to schedule an international call, video conference, event or meeting.

The reports also suggests that event and meeting apps are becoming a business essential, with demand for services “in

Moreton Hire has launched a new online exhibitor portal, creating a significantly more efficient and streamlined process for exhibitors. Exhibitors can now hire

The app was developed in partnership with Michael Segalla, professor of management at international business school HEC

The portal is customisable to show specific content and a one-stopshop for exhibitors.

Best days for events identified

Paris, who conducted research in this area. According to an article he published in Harvard Business Review, only around one third of the days in a year are “holiday-free”.

“Scheduling an international meeting, face to face or by conference call, is challenging in today’s global environment,” said Segalla. “I found very few common working days available for a meeting after accounting for all typical national and religious holidays observed around the world.”

Based on Segalla’s findings, the app was developed to help organise international meetings at the best possible time for participants located in various countries. Users can also find a wealth of countryspecific information within the app, including background on the holidays that are celebrated in any given country.

The app is available on iPad and iPhone from the iTunes apps store.

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www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 15

mel bourn e

All eyes on Melbourne A new week-long showcase of business events surrounding this year’s Asia-Pacific Meetings & Incentive Expo will ensure that February is a month to remember in Melbourne, writes Ylla Wright.

With the advent of the inaugural Business Events Week this month, which will centre on the Asia-Pacific Meetings & Incentive Expo (AIME), now in its 21st year, the eyes of Australia’s business events community will be firmly on Melbourne.

Announced late last year by Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher, Business Events Week will be a week-long program of activities designed to showcase the value

of business events, running from February 25 to March 1. It will be hosted by Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB), with co-operation from major players including the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Exhibition & Event Association of Australasia, and the Tourism and Transport Forum.

While many of the events scheduled for the week will target

An event at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

the business events community, it is expected that the event will increase the profile of the sector in the broader Australian community.

Making the announcement, Asher said that “business events generate extensive economic wealth for the local, state and national economy”, injecting more than $1.2 billion annually into the Victorian economy alone.

“From the Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo, which will welcome more than 500 international buyers, to an open day at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre for the public, I encourage everyone to take part in Business Events Week to learn more about this inspiring industry and recognise the dedication of Karen Bolinger and the team at the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau,” she continued.

According to Bolinger, chief

16 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

executive of MCVB, the idea for the week came out of a discussion

by AIME’s advisory group about how AIME, which is owned by the MCVB, will continue to build on its position as Asia-Pacific’s premier business events expo.

“AIME is a trade show for the industry, but we’d like to broaden that; to give the wider community a better understanding of what a business event is, and that it comes with employment and a lot of other things attached to it that people don’t always recognise, including the intellectual, ‘Beyond Tourism’ benefits,” she says.

“Having a week dedicated to business events is a major coup for our industry and we firmly believe it will assist us in communicating how valuable the industry is to the Australian economy.

“Very few people are aware that as a convention and visitors bureau, our sole function is to

Live it up at Melbourne LIVE! bid for the right for Melbourne to host business events; from board meetings to corporate and incentive travel, right through to major conferences.

“In 2013, we hope to change that and educate Australia about this all important industry which provides so much value across the knowledge sectors, tourism and beyond.”

Highlights of the week-long program will include the ICCA Forum for Young Professionals, which will have a “revitalise your thinking” theme, focusing on new approaches and innovative case studies in the meetings industry; AIME CEO Summit, which will see chief executives from the global business events industry come together to discuss the latest trends and issue facing the industry; Saxton Ultimate Event Experience, a two-hour showcase of 10 cutting edge presenters and entertainers, and a business events educational session for Victorian university and TAFE students, followed by a guided tour of AIME. A number of trade events relating to the aviation industry, to be held before the Avalon Airshow from March 1-3, will also be included on the schedule, demonstrating the value

Visitors to AIME will be invited to experience the best of Melbourne at this year’s official Welcome Reception, hosted by the MCVB. To be staged at South Wharf Promenade – the city’s newest wining and dining precinct – the “Melbourne LIVE!” themed event, will feature a series of “live” sites showcasing the city’s artistic, musical and culinary talents.

Amongst the highlights of the event will include “Live-Art”, with local artists creating their own interpretation of the Melbourne skyline guests can view as they enter the event; “Live-Music”, an energetic music venue featuring a line-up of wellknown Australian talent; “LiveFare”, an open plan kitchen with theatrical chefs guiding guests through the state’s culinary delights, and “Live-Acoustic”, an inner-urban gastro pub scene with locally crafted beers,

“Aussie” fare and a live band.

Bolinger says the theme will be a perfect introduction to Melbourne for AIME attendees.

“Melbourne is renowned for its events – almost every day a festival is breathing life into this amazing city,” she says. “Melbourne LIVE! will embody these events and allow attendees to revel in the atmosphere they create.” ● Tickets

are available at www.aime.com.au

Peter King, chief executive of MCEC, is delighted to be involved with the ground-breaking event.

define the contribution we make to the community, from an intellectual capacity, but also an economic one,” he says. “Initiatives like this are great for us as an industry.”

“We struggle as an industry to

As well as those events directly

of business events to an industry such as the aviation and aerospace.

related to the hosting of AIME such as a welcome lunch for around 350 Hosted Buyers, and Tourism and Transport Forum breakfast, the MCEC will also be having its inaugural “Open Space” open day on Thursday, February 28, with all comers welcome. The event will include a Plenary session with influential business leaders and an open-air afternoon event showcasing MCEC’s South Wharf location and the versatility of the precinct for event planners.

“We’ll be inviting a whole lot of people we do business with around Melbourne, but also opening the facility to anyone who wants to come and have a look,” he says. “This is a world class facility but not a lot of people understand what we do here. By opening up the Centre we can show people the benefits of the industry and what a great facility they have on their doorstep.”

With the inaugural event yet to kick off, Melbourne’s business events community is already thinking of how the week will evolve in years to come, according to King.

“While it is here in Melbourne during AIME, it is designed to become a national showcase

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18 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

Connect on

time in the fight against HIV/AIDS, according to conference co-chair, Professor Sharon Lewin, director of the infectious diseases unit at Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital.

“2015 has been identified by the United nations as the target for specific HIV/AIDS treatments and new millennium goals so AIDS 2014 will provide an important opportunity for researchers, scientists, doctors, business leaders and government to come together and assess these pressing priorities,” she says.

Other international conferences to be held in Melbourne in the next two years include the World Diabetes Conference and the International Congress of Pediatrics later this year, and the World Congress of Cardiology and the World Cancer Congress, scheduled for 2014.

Doing business at AIME.

for business events,” he says.

“It’s only going to get better and stronger in years to come.”

Melbourne is widely accepted as one of Australia’s best destinations for business events. In the 2012 ICCA Country and City Ranking Report, the city was named Australia’s number one city for conferences and congresses, beating other high-profile destinations including Brisbane and Sydney. Melbourne also ranked number nine in the Asia-Pacific region. ICCA rankings apply to international association meetings with 50 or more delegates, which occur regularly, have been held in three different countries, and have been held within the listed city during 2011.

In the last financial year the MCVB also delivered its best results on record in terms of estimated room nights and forecasted economic impact, securing 210 international and national business events for Victoria – a 62 per cent increase on the 2011/12 target – with an estimated economic impact valued at $361 million.

Amongst the high-profile congresses which have been confirmed for the city in upcoming years is the 2018 World Congress of the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology, announced last month, which will “attract more than 2500 delegates, generating an estimated $14.3 million for the state economy”,

according to Asher.

The congress will provide a global arena for the exchange of knowledge in this highly specialised field, drawing on Australia’s expertise in using nuclear medicine to detect and treat diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases. It is the first time the event will have been held in Melbourne in 24 years.

The congress, to be held at the MCEC, will be hosted by the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine, which was supported in its successful bid by the MCVB. In 2014 the city will see 2000 delegates from around the world attend the Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development, an event to be co-hosted by the International Association of Schools of Social Work, International Council on Social Welfare and International Federation of Social Workers.

Also in 2014, Melbourne will host the 20th International AIDS Conference, the largest medical conference ever to be held in Australia. The six-day event, which will be held at MCEC in July, is expected to attract more than 14,000 delegates to the city and generate an estimated $80 million in economic value. It is the first time since 2004 that the conference has been held in the Asia-Pacific region, and comes at a significant

Along with first-rate infrastructure and support from government, much of the MCVB’s success in attracting large international congresses to Melbourne can be credited to initiatives such as “Melbourne IQ: The Intellectual Choice for Conferences”, a campaign which is designed to promote Melbourne’s expertise and track record in a diverse range of academic, scientific and professional endeavours to the international associations market.

One year on from its launch, the campaign has “had good traction”, according to Bolinger and will “continue to grow and develop” as they move forward.

Another program, the Club Melbourne Ambassador Program, supported by the MCVB, MCEC and the Victorian Government, brings together distinguished Melburnians from the fields of medicine, science, business and industry to act as advocates for Melbourne as an innovative, forward-thinking city and desirable conference destination. In 2012, 14 international conferences across a range of fields including transport, medicine, science, health and business were secured for Melbourne with the help of Club Melbourne Ambassadors. Overall, the partnership has delivered 65 international events for Melbourne since 2005, with a forecast economic impact of over $450 million. Both programs highlight Melbourne’s capabilities as an “Intellectual Capital”.

With the success of initiatives such as these and plans for Business Events Week to become an annual event, it can be expected that Melbourne will attract more attention – and major events – in the months and years ahead.

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www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 19

When India came to town When 4000 delegates descended on Melbourne in December for the Amway India Leadership Seminar, it was the largest Indian incentive group to come to Australia.

Melbourne played host to the largest Indian incentive group ever to come to Australia late last year, when 4000 Indian delegates descended on the city for the annual Amway India Leadership Seminar.

A global leader in direct selling with over three million independent

business owners in over 80 countries, Amway used the event to inspire and motivate Indian distributors to increase their sales in the lead up to the event in the hope of being chosen for the oncein-a-lifetime trip.

The week-long tailor-made

itinerary saw the group attend a business networking session at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre; participate in an exclusive Phillip Island nature tour which saw delegates get up-close to Australian wildlife at the Phillip Island Nature Park (the first time

From a blank canvas

to something extravagant

an event has had exclusive access to the Park); and spend an evening rubbing shoulders with some of Australia’s cricket greats at a gala event at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, complete with Bollywood performances, a marching band, cheerleaders and fireworks display.

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20 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

Banquet Dinners

up to 3,500 people

Secured for the city by the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB), hosting the event “was a major coup for the MCVB and Victoria”, according to Bureau chief executive Karen Bolinger.

To assist Amway India in the smooth execution of such a largescale event, the Bureau partnered with many of its 270 members, facilitating exclusive tours and activities for delegates, while the incentive itinerary was managed on the ground by Australian Tours Management.

Thanking the team at MCVB and everyone who’d made the trip happen, event organiser, Rita Tandon, senior manager of Special

Events Amway India, said that it was an “exhilarating experience hosting 4000 people for a week”. “[In particular] The ‘closing ceremony’ at the MCG was a once in lifetime experience, and everything and everybody was awesome…Wow!” she said.

India is a key emerging market for Victoria, and Australia in general, with Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy saying that it offers “strong future potential for both business and leisure travel thanks to the nation’s rapid economic rise through this Asian Century”.

During the 12 months to September 2012, 6450 Indian delegates visited

From opposite left: Delegates at the Amway India Leadership Seminar’s Business Session; Founders Council member of Amway India, Mark Lei, enters the MCG in true VIP style; Delegates enjoying themselves at the Amway India Gala Dinner; former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist with Amway India delegates. Inset: Amway India chief executive Bill Pinckney addresses delegates at the Business Session, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Australia for a convention or conference, with another 26,450 visiting for business purposes.

The 2012 Amway India Leadership Seminar follows the hosting of a number of successful corporate

incentive programs for Amway in the Asia region. In 2008, Melbourne hosted a total of 7200 delegates from Amway China (in several waves) and prior to that, the Victorian city hosted groups from the Philippines, Indonesia and Korea.

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www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 21

ta sma nia

Beyond the bushfires While many of Tasmania’s tourism operators fear the worst after last month’s devastating bush fires, the state’s business events industry is feeling positive about 2013, writes Ylla Wright.

In what will surely be remembered as one of the worst summers on record for bushfires, due to the heatwave that swept most of the country last month, creating ideal conditions for bushfires, Tasmania was one of the worst states to be hit. In early January more than 300 people were left homeless after around 170 properties were damaged or destroyed by a fire that tore through the Tasman Peninsula.

Thousands more were evacuated from their homes, with many stranded after the Arthur Highway was closed; about 400 sheltered at the Port Arthur Historic Site.

While the damage could have been much worse, the legacy of the fires is expected to hit many tourism operators in the region hard, as visitors stay away from the area, which takes in not only Port Arthur but also major drawcards such as

the Freycinet National Park.

still business as usual.”

While supporting those affected and rebuilding communities is a priority, the Tasmania Government is planning a number of post-bushfire tourism marketing campaigns, designed to let people know the state is still open to visitors.

Bacon said that the Government is working on introducing a range of recovery measures in response to the bushfires.

“Tourism is a significant economic driver for many regional communities, and it’s essential we work to support operators during this difficult time,” said Scott Bacon, Tasmania’s Minister for Tourism.

“In particular, we want to emphasise that Tasmania is still open to visitors.

“This is an important message for both people holidaying in the state and those planning to come to Tasmania, to ensure they realise that in many parts of the state, it is

“The Tasmanian Government will do all it can to support affected areas, as we look to rebuild communities and, in the immediate future, Tourism Tasmania has already started developing plans for short-term campaigns to stimulate further demand and alleviate the commercial stress that has been placed on the state as a result of the fires,” he said.

“As part of this, local and interstate marketing campaigns are being planned to let people know they should continue with their travel plans.

“These campaigns will also encourage the return of visitors to affected areas, build tourism industry confidence and encourage community inclusion.”

Stuart Nettlefold, chief executive of Business Events Tasmania, says that with most of the bushfire activity taking place in regional and more remote areas well away from the main centres of Hobart and Launceston, “it has been business as usual for events hosting in Tasmania”.

With all the roads now reopened, pre and post touring of tourist attractions such as Port Arthur should also be trouble-free, according to Nettlefold, who said that organisers with concerns should contact the business events team.

With corporate social responsibility (CSR) a key part of most organisations’ charters these days, he expects that there may however be “an increase in events engaging in CSR initiatives that generate financial support to the Tasmanian

MONA in Hobart.

22 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

Hobart waterfront.

Bushfire Appeal, which would certainly be welcome”.

After a “standout year for Tasmania’s business events industry”, which saw a 15 per cent increase in the number of conferences held in 2012, compared to 2011, including a number of major national conferences with attendances of between 8001000 delegates, such as the ASA 71st National Scientific Congress Australian Society of Anaesthetists, AusVeg National Convention Trade Show & Awards for Excellence, the 15th National Family Law Conference 2012, and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Annual Congress 2012, Nettlefold expects 2013 to be another excellent year.

“I’d like to see more large events, up to 1100 pax, hosting in Tasmania,” he says. “We had new product come online in 2012 on Hobart’s waterfront catering to this market and an additional facility is opening in March 2013 – I’d love to see these venues humming with the excitement of a full-house gala dinner.”

Boosting Hobart’s facilities from next month will be the Macquarie Wharf No.2 Cruise Terminal, just a few minutes’ walk from Salamanca Place and popular conferencing venue The Hotel Grand Chancellor and overlooking the iconic Hobart waterfront precinct. With a capacity of up the 1000, the venue will cater for medium to large scale corporate functions and events. The Wharf also features a waterside wharf

Product update

apron extending the length of the building which can be used as an additional events space, with stunning views, to accompany the venue if required.

Macquarie Wharf joins Princess Wharf 1, known as PW1, a multifunction venue which opened last year, which has a capacity for 1500 banquet style or 4000 cocktail.

Home to the Taste of Tasmania festival, the venue will play host to the Qantas Tourism Australian Awards Dinner in 2013.

With Tasmania becoming increasingly well known as a quality destination for both tourists and business events alike – capital city Hobart was recently named one of Lonely Planet’s “Top 10 cities in the world to visit” in 2013 – Nettlefold says he is “keen to work more closely with other destinations within Australia to offer international events’ satellite meetings and pre and post touring options in Tasmania”.

“With MONA as an international

drawcard, with increased flight capacity recently provided by Qantas, and with very high delegate satisfaction levels, Tasmania is recognised as quality destination, making it an enticing addition to any international bid,” he says.

“I also hope to see smaller scale events, under 100 pax, making use of Tasmania’s exceptional regional product. In particular, the East Coast, Cradle Mountain and Strahan have great infrastructure and provide truly unique experiences.”

With a goal of building on the momentum of 2012, the Business Events Tasmania team will be at this month’s AIME, and the bureau is also giving event planners the chance to win one of two holidays in Tasmania simply by requesting a bid for a genuine piece of business in 2013.

Sail away, sail away...

With the thrilling finish of the annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race still fresh in people’s memories, a new Hobartbased offering is gaining popularity with corporate and conference clients.

Hobart Yachts provide a variety of sailing adventures, from threehour cruises on the Derwent to week-long journeys around the East Coast of Tasmania and explorations of the South West World Heritage wilderness at Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour.

Or step aboard one of two 62-foot luxury ocean cruisers, Helsal IV and her sister ship Magic Miles,

Overall, says Nettlefold, “Tasmania has secured its place as a quality destination offering delegate satisfaction in a very competitive environment”.

for a one-on-one “match race” on the Derwent River, following the last leg of the Sydney to Hobart race. Guests can take a turn at the helm of these Sydney to Hobart race veterans, or sit back and enjoy the thrill of the race. With both yachts evenly matched, either could win, and the rivalry between the two is contagious!

After sailing to the mouth of the river, the yachts follow the often tricky Derwent River leg of the Sydney to Hobart race, ending at the official finish line off Castray Esplanade.

With the race over everyone retires to a nearby watering hole to watch video of the day’s racing and debrief over a drink or two.

The yachts can carry 18 passengers each and come with highly experienced and qualified skippers and crew to ensure that guests get the most out of their day.

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www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 23

sunshin e co a st

Adventure beckons The Sunshine Coast has attracted a number of high profile sporting events but you don’t have to be a dedicated athlete to enjoy the many experiences on offer in the region, discovers Sheridan Randall.

With its scenic beaches, lush hinterland and proximity to Brisbane, it is little wonder the Sunshine Coast is such a magnet for sporting events such as the Noosa and Mooloolaba Triathlons, Australian PGA Championships at the Palmer Coolum, the Seven Sunshine Coast Marathon and the new Sunshine Coast Tough Mudder, to be held on August 17-18 in Caloundra.

But it’s not only the more athletic among us that enjoy the region’s many attractions, with the business events sector also taking advantage of the plethora of activities on offer.

Montville one of only four restaurants in the state to be awarded two hats. Tides Waterfront restaurant in Caloundra was also honoured with a hat, with SCDL chief executive Steve Cooper saying the award was recognition that the restaurant’s reputation “is reaching foodies right across the state and Australia”.

“New Zealand is one market in particularly than seems to show interest [in festivals], with a number of event planners pitching events at the beginning or end of conferences or as an incentive they incorporate half a day at the Noosa Food and Wine festival within their program,” says Pippa McCreery, business events manager at Sunshine Coast Development Limited (SCDL).

“It tends to be the foodie and sporting events that resonate the strongest,” she says. “Even if it’s not incorporated within a conference program as an actual activity to do one afternoon, it’s still a nice thing to offer to partner programs or to extend stays that are not part of the official program.”

Air New Zealand and alliance partner Virgin Australia’s decision to extend its season of flights between Auckland and Sunshine Coast Airport. Flights will re-commence on June 18 and run until October 13, five weeks longer than the previous season.

New leisure tourism campaigns such as the Sunshine Coast Nature Trails campaign on YouTube are also expanding the offering of the region.

“We were very excited to see it extended into a second year, as the first year was very much a trial, which went very well,” says McCreery.

“Previously we were known predominantly as a beach destination and not much else but we have been working very hard at making the consumer and event organisers realise that there is more to it than just beaches,” says McCreery.

“The challenge for business events is that it is only two flights a week. It is still possible to get a group out, but coming in on a Sunday and then out on Tuesday doesn’t work [well] for groups. There is the option to come one way and go via Brisbane, which we are promoting, as [the region is] very much a stone’s throw

The Noosa International Food and Wine Festival is this year celebrating its 10th anniversary, and will once again bring the world’s best chefs and wine makers to the Sunshine Coast. The festival also appears to have inspired the culinary offering in the region, with six Sunshine Coast restaurants awarded “hats” In Queensland’s 2012 inaugural Good Food Guide, with The Long Apron restaurant at Spicer’s Clovelly Estate in

The Maleny Botanic Gardens.

McCreery says that the region is “trying to be a bit smarter with its marketing” by pitching the appropriate events to relevant markets, adding that some events act simply as an incentive rather than the primary reason to come.

There is often no greater vote of confidence in a region than its air access, as shown by

The Mooloolaba Triathlon on the Sunshine Coast.

24 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

from Brisbane airport,” she says.

Centre of adventure Last year’s spending freeze by the Queensland Government hit some venues harder than others, with “the 4-star properties more [affected] than the 5-star resorts”, according to McCreery. With the mining sector also quiet of late, the Sunshine Coast is encouraging the clean technology industry to come to the region, such as water recycling and solar power, to highlight that “there is expertise in the region in that area and for people to come up and do site inspections to water plants and that sort of thing”, according to McCreery.

“Our resort is all about health and wellbeing and those wonderful sporting events help to encourage that,” says Middleton.

Novotel Twin Waters has 10 purpose-built meeting rooms and a range of outdoor event spaces catering from 10 to 1400 cocktail-style.

The largest space, the 1125sqm Wandiny Room, can cater to 560 banquet-style, while open air conference options include the lagoon, garden or bush clearing locations, while the 18-hole championship golf course is ideal for pre- or postconference activities.

Not surprisingly, the many outdoor activities available to the region are a big draw card for events and incentive groups, with catamarans, stand up paddle boards and kayaks all available from the resort.

Even more activities are now being offered following the opening of an Adventure Park on the resort’s grounds, by leading provider of teambuilding activities Corporate & Group Xperiences.

Already known to the area for its Segway tours, where the guests are able to cruise around the resort’s bushlands, the Xperiences Adventure Park has a “M*A*S*H-themed” area specifically for corporate challenge events, an archery range, rock climbing wall, human foosball, laser skirmish and a mini-Segway park.

Watch the video in the CIM iPad app.

The beach at Noosa.

“We chose the Novotel because of what it has to offer, in terms of space, different types of landscape, from lagoons and bush to open areas, and its great conference facilities, making it good for the business events and leisure market,” says Nicky Cassidy, Xperiences’ Sunshine Coast business manager.

Although the Adventure Park is independent of the resort, Cassidy maintains that it “has a fabulous relationship with them”.

“We don’t offer packages together as some groups come to Novotel with other team building companies already in mind, but we work together on a case by case basis,” she says. “I would like to think of the Novotel as a one-stopshop for all accommodation, conferencing and team building needs, which can all be done on site and really well.”

and event facilities.

“This refurbishment program, with high-tech audio-visual equipment, and soft and hard furnishings, will bring Kingfisher Bay Resort in line with current industry standards and expectations,” says the resort’s business development manager, Leonie Belbin.

The pristine landscape of Fraser Island has long been a drawcard for conference and incentive groups visiting Kingfisher Bay, with the resort announcing some new experiences to their activity schedule. Eco-friendly, ranger-guided Segway adventure tours are now available for all guests to the resort, exploring the inter-tidal zones and across the varied terrain on Fraser’s western side.

An Aircraft Adventure Xperience is also on offer and has teams tasked with surviving after a plane crash, made all the more realistic with the wrecked fuselage of real plane used as a prop.

Catering for groups up to 450, the Adventure Park promises “to create an extremely fun day out of the office that the clients will talk about for ages”, says Cassidy.

Natural attraction Kingfisher Bay Resort celebrated its 20th year of operation on World Heritage-listed Fraser Island with a major refurbishment of its conferencing

Team building with Xperience.

With plenty of sunshine, beautiful lakes and lush rainforest, it’s the perfect time for a meeting on Fraser Island.

Residential packages from $135* per person include twin share accommodation, buffet breakfast and delegate day package.

Hold your next meeting at Kingfisher Bay Resort from 1 February to 31 August 2013 and we’ll reward you with one of the following incentives: • One hour Sunset Experience Package • Return passenger ferry transfers • 15% discount on all spa treatments Email: sales@kingfisherbay.com Call: 61 7 3032 2813 Web: frasermeetings.com.au *Minimum numbers apply.

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One of the largest resorts in the region, Novotel Twin Waters Resort Sunshine Coast saw a drop in government business in 2012, with some regular conferences put on hold, according to the resort’s director of sales and marketing, Rebecca Middleton. However, Middleton says the region’s appeal as an events’ destination is maturing, with the Sunshine Coast leveraging off the many festivals it hosts.

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 25

Segway tours on Fraser Island.

The resort has also joined forces with the crew from cruiser Freedom III to offer a range of adventure cruises, including Morning Adventure Cruises on the Great Sandy Strait, Great Sandy Cruises which can be tailored to suit group needs, Fishing Charters and Fraser Island Sunset Cruises. Rounding out the new activities are stand-up paddle boards, which are available for hire from the Jetty Hut, and complement the canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, fishing challenges and beach games already on offer.

“The island also provides the perfect backdrop for adventure-based team building challenges,” says Belbin. “And when the day’s work is done, our team can transform Fraser’s unique wilderness into a specialist venue – where they can banquet under the stars or dress up in costume and kick up their heels.”

Kingfisher Bay Resort has also been named a “Green Tourism Leader” by peak national body Eco Tourism Australia, in recognition of its

commitment to environmental tourism in Australia.

Kingfisher Bay’s general manager, Warwick Kahl, says the resort built its reputation “on our commitment to eco-tourism” and would continue to introduce “new and exciting eco products and activities into our resort experience”.

The resort’s green credentials have been further enhanced with the option for conference delegates to join Kingfisher Bay’s new Conservation Credit Scheme, which launched in December last year. The scheme allows guests to opt out of non-essential housekeeping services and rewards them with Conservation Credits towards eco-accredited day tours or spa treatments, which use sustainable resources. This follows the resort adopting the Mercure Meetings Carbon Neutral Conference

Outrigger Little Hastings Street Resort and Spa in Noosa.

program, which works closely with the Carbon Reduction Institute to calculate and offset greenhouse gas emission sources, such as travel and accommodation, to provide a full range of services to guests without impacting the environment.

Despite the drop in government spending, the 5-star Outrigger Little Hastings Street Resort and Spa, which is entering its third year of operation, is looking set for a bumper year, having secured more conferences for 2013 than the previous twelve months. Targeting small to medium conference and incentive groups up to 350 delegates, the resort is attracting more environmentally aware businesses, according to general manager Niel Mason.

“The fact that we are in the heart of the UNESCO-designated Noosa Biosphere and are an official partner of the Biosphere, enables us to draw more environmentally focused conferences based on our own sustainable design features and extensive energy saving practices,” says Mason.

Outrigger Little Hastings Street has formed a partnership with BodyBreaks, a health and wellness operator offering a range of breakout activities ranging from yoga on the beach, Pilates, boot camp classes and national park hikes, to widen its incentive appeal.

“We also have strong working relationships with a range of complementary operators from stand-up-paddle boarding to outrigger canoeing, day trip organisers and wetland tours. Breakout activities arranged by the resort really are only limited to one’s imagination.”

New faces, old favourites The Maleny Botanic Gardens is a new open air conferencing option set three hectares of 26 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

MasterChef host Matt Preston at The Asian Food Trail at Noosa International Food and Wine Festival.

colourful and manicured gardens, set high on the escarpment against the backdrop of rainforest and the spectacular Glasshouse Mountains. The botanic gardens are suitable for day events up to 50 delegates in their five gazebos, all with breathtaking views of the landscaped gardens, panorama of waterfalls, ponds and colourful plantings. A range of accommodation is available nearby making them an ideal location for day or half-day meetings. Devonshire tea and coffees can be provided in-house, while gourmet platters and sandwiches featuring local produce, and fully catered meals by Golden Roast Sunshine Coast are all available from external caterers.

Following a change of ownership last year, The Oaks Oasis, Caloundra, has unveiled a $2.8 million refurbishment to the 4-star property’s common areas, meetings facilities, accommodation wings and leisure facilities.

Kerri Hamilton, general manager of Oaks Oasis, says the “positive response” from business travellers and groups who have experienced the new look at Oaks Oasis “is a genuine indication of steady growth for our town”, which when combined with the beachside location makes an “irresistible” offer.

“Caloundra’s natural beauty and laidback atmosphere has forever been a drawcard for tourists and we hope this investment will play a pivotal role in bringing larger numbers of tourists to the area all year round,” Hamilton says.

Catering up to 250 delegates, the conference facilities were a priority during the multimillion dollar transformation, with the Oasis,

Board, State and Verandah Rooms all receiving upgrades to the walls and carpet, and now featuring fixed data projectors, motorised screens, in-house audio systems and ambient lighting. The St George Room has also undergone a soft refurbishment, in addition to housing a 70”LCD television and a new airconditioning system.

The 5-star Sheraton Noosa Resort & Spa is to undergo a $10 million dollar refurbishment

commencing in March and scheduled for completion in August, 2013. The refurb will include all the accommodation rooms, conference space and Cato’s Restaurant & Bar. The resort has eight meeting rooms including the Noosa Ballroom with natural light and the capacity for 350 theatre-style or 200 banquet. Poolside caters up to 300 cocktail-style, while Cato’s Restaurant caters for groups of up to 60 in one private section and 130 seated in the entire restaurant.

everything in one perfect place Situated on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, Palmer Cooloum Resort strikes the perfect balance between work and play. Spectacular natural surrounds, flexible venues and enthusiastic staff combine to make Palmer Coolum Resort an unrivalled choice for any event. Whether you’re after a night of lavish glamour or laidback fun, the possibilities are endless at such a unique venue. Talk to us about planning your conference, meeting or event today.

Warran Road, Coolum Beach, Queensland Australia

T. +61 7 5446 1234

www.palmercoolumresort.com.au

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 27

rooms catering up to 450 banquet-style or 600 theatre-style. The ballroom can be configured into four rooms with a large foyer area suited to conference breaks and trade exhibitions. The smaller Boardroom caters for more intimate meetings up to 20 while a pre-event foyer is available for exhibitions, product launches and pre-dinner drinks.

The Sunshine Coast Function Centre, part of the Caloundra RSL, can also cater to large numbers, up to 500 banquet-style. The floor to ceiling glass atrium lobbies have private bar facilities whilst the surrounding restaurants, cafes and bars provide the opportunity for delegates to mingle after the conference.

Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island.

Being the first 5-star property to open in Noosa back in 1989, general manager Stephen Ferrigno said the refurb “marks a whole new era for the resort and for Noosa”.

“We are thrilled to announce the refurbishment of this iconic Noosa landmark and reaffirm our links with the local community,” he said.

Ramada Marcoola Beach has also just completed a soft refurbishment of its six function rooms and foyer, catering up to 270 delegates cocktail-style or 180 banquet-style in its largest space, the 240sqm Beachfront Ballroom. All the meeting rooms have audio-visual capabilities while wi-fi is available throughout the resort. The resort’s beachside location also makes it popular for teambuilding activities, which can easily be incorporated into conference schedules.

to create a new resort to compete with the world’s best when it comes to lavish opulence.

In the meantime, the resort continues to offer some of the largest capacity meeting spaces in the region, with its Pavilion catering up to 1200 theatre-style and 600 banquet-style.

Outdoor events up to 900 cocktail-style can also be accommodated.

New attractions are the Palmer Motorama, which showcases over 50 vintage prestige cars, and Jeff the 8.5 metre tall Tyrannosaurus Rex, currently on display on the PGA Championship 18-hole golf course, which is hoped will be the first of 160 replicas in a planned dinosaur park.

Dedicated space

Now no longer part of the IHG Group, Crowne Plaza Pelican Waters has been renamed Pelican Waters Golf Resort and Spa. Catering up to 350 cocktail-style or 260 banquet-style in the largest of its eight meeting rooms, the resort’s Function Lawn located by the picturesque waterways or the lagoon style swimming pool is perfect for outdoor events.

Incentive options include a round on the Greg Norman-designed golf course, relaxation at the day spa or beach activities.

The University of the Sunshine Coast, in Sippy Downs, offers a number of meeting spaces on campus, with the largest, the USC Auditorium in the Innovation Centre, catering up to 500 people theatre-style or 330 people banquet-style. The auditorium can be subdivided into two separate halls to suit a function’s requirement, while the main hall has a generous foyer area for after-hours functions. For smaller meetings, the Tutor rooms offer a cheaper alternative for those looking to host seminars, and can cater up to almost 300.

The University’s in-house catering team offers quality controlled menu options, with a functions kitchen adjoining the Innovation Centre.

The Palmer Coolum Resort has been hitting the headlines with owner Clive Palmer’s vision

The Events Centre @ Maroochy RSL is a purposebuilt events centre featuring five conference

Teeing off

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inspire your delegates leave the rest to us

The Events Centre Caloundra is the largest dedicated meeting, conference and events venue on the Sunshine Coast, catering up to 1100 banquet-style in the Banquet Hall and 900 theatre-style in the Plenary Hall. The venue’s size and versatility, combined with its close proximity to a range of accommodation options, makes it appealing to the association market, according to the Centre’s events coordinator Kristy Ogden. Ogden also welcomes the rise in the number of festivals being held on the Sunshine Coast.

“We are thrilled that the Tough Mudder is going to be held in Caloundra,” Ogden says.

“It will be a fantastic event and is a great fit for the Sunshine Coast to stage it. As our venue is located in Caloundra, we are certainly looking forward to the flow-on effects for our Centre and the tourism industry at large.”

The Sunshine Coast’s promotion of its many natural attractions and plethora of quality venues, properties and activities is building a strong foundation for the region to claim its spot at the top of any event organiser’s wish-list.

The University of the Sunshine Coast.

$52**

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With the ideal combination of affordability and a convenient location (just a five-minute drive from Sunshine Coast Airport), Ramada Marcoola Beach is the perfect place for your next conference.

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tel: +61 7 5412 0100 events@ramadamarcoola.com.au www.ramadamarcoola.com.au *Terms & Conditions apply. Subject to availability. Standard hotel room, single occupancy. **Based on minimum of 25 pax. Resort Management by Wyndham Pty Ltd ACN 099 634 830 trading as Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre Marcoola Beach. MB6884

WHG6884 - CIM Feb Marcoola Ad.indd 1

28 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

19/12/12 3:28 PM

c h in a rea d y

Lost in translation With China high on Australia’s business radar everyone wants a piece of the action, but despite government initiatives to get the tourism sector, including the business events sector, “China Ready”, there are still many cultural obstacles that need to be overcome, discovers Sheridan Randall.

China. It is the hinge on which Australia’s destiny swings. And so far so good, with China’s economy still keeping Australia’s head above water despite many in the West having that sinking feeling. Tourism Australia’s managing director Andrew McEvoy describes China as a “stand out performer”, with Chinese convention and conference visitor arrivals to the country during the year ending October 31, 2012, rising by 21 per cent, according to figures by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The number of business visitors from China is still relatively small compared with some of Australia’s traditional overseas business

partners, but it is climbing, with Chinese convention and conference visitor arrivals in Sydney rising 4 per cent in the year to March 31, 2012.

Delegates from the 2012 Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress welcomed at SCEC.

a year, by making the state “China Ready”.

To prepare for this surge in arrivals, the New South Wales Government has funded its China Tourism Strategy 2012-2020 to the tune of $15 million over the next four years. Developed by Destination NSW and launched

by Minister for Tourism and Major Events George Souris late last year, the strategy is aimed at increasing tourism, including business events, from China to NSW, with the overall sector currently worth about $1.1 billion

Business Events Sydney (BESydney) secured 32 Asian corporate events estimated to be worth more than $90 million to the NSW economy in the 2011-2012 financial year. These events attracted about 18,500 visitors who spent a combined 91,700 days in Sydney.

An increasing number of hotels, attractions and suppliers in Sydney are providing Chinese language or cultural study lessons for staff, integrating Chinese language tours into their programs and rethinking menu and media options, according

to BESydney chief executive Lyn Lewis-Smith. The City of Sydney is about to introduce seminars for city retailers to help them understand the needs and expectations of Chinese visitors, while Sydney Airport is working with BESydney and Destination NSW to ensure Chinese arrivals feel welcome from the moment they disembark. BESydney also hosts an annual international market brief for its industry members to share insights into the Chinese business event market.

However, despite the government led push to prepare for the increase in Chinese business visitors, there are some who believe that the bar

Your invitation to explore

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Join our familiarisation where you will be wined, dined, introduced to local operators, and try first hand some of our conference activities.

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www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 29

that is appropriate there is not appropriate from the Chinese perspective.”

The Amway China Gala Dinner at SCEC.

has been set so low, we have a long way to come before we can claim to be able to host Chinese visitors to the level expected from them.

Daryl Guppy, president of the Australia China Business Council NT and foundation director of Red Cliff Group in Singapore, says that a number of things are still standing in the way – with the entry visa for all Chinese travellers indicative of the way Australia values its relationship with China.

“If we want people to come here efficiently and easily filling out 18 pages of personal details with all sorts of documentation that you and I would be reluctant to

C

A I R N S

provide to anybody is not a good incentive,” he says.

This is not “positive discrimination”, instead more of an indifference on our part, according to Guppy.

“There is still this feeling that China is not so different from the rest of Asia and that we have worked in Asia and therefore we can simply transfer those skills directly to the mainland and that is a tremendous way to do business and make money,” he says.

“The basic mistake is that we think that people from mainland China are pretty much the same as people from Singapore or Malaysia, but the hosting

C

The recipe for networking in Australia is to simply add one part casual dining, with the emphasis on meat, to three parts alcohol and stir – mates will be made and business will be done. She’ll be right. Except she won’t for those visitors from China, who may well be vegetarian due to religious beliefs, will want strict protocols to establish hierarchies and who may not even understand what anyone is saying or who is saying it due to a lack of translators or appropriate name tags.

“When we go to China we are always overwhelmed by the level of hosting that we are given. What we don’t realise is that it is pretty standard, and that is the expectation they have when they come to Australia as well,” Guppy says.

“It doesn’t mean we have to meet all of their expectations, but it does mean we have to be aware of them and be conscious of which ones we are going to meet and those we won’t. It is much more useful for people if there is a translation in English and Chinese for all delegates on

O N V E N T I O N

things as simple as name tags and place badges. We would feel very uncomfortable if a Chinese delegate turned up with a name tag in Chinese that we simply couldn’t read so why do we provide name tags in English only for our Chinese delegates?

“It’s as simple as providing a choice of chopsticks as well as Western cutlery, making sure that warm water is available on tables instead of cold water, and that there is range of food choices that include genuine vegetarian food choices, not because it’s a lifestyle choice but a religious requirement.”

Guppy cites his experience at a 5-star hotel in Adelaide that was hosting a conference with 80 per cent of its delegates from China.

During the meal, the hotel supplied takeaway chopsticks for the Chinese guests, “the equivalent of plastic knives and forks”, rather than spending “$2 at Coles” and providing proper chopsticks.

Getting these simple details right, or at the very least making an effort to get them right, is paramount as it “sets the parameters and the environment for the deals and the business you want to do”.

“It shows you are prepared to act as

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E N T R E

Consider Cairns for your next meeting…

Vi s i t w w w. c a i r n s c o n v e n t i o n . c o m . a u

Serious Business in Australia’s Most Stunning Location 30 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

a good host, which is very important to the Chinese perspective, and that you have a genuine sincerity and interest in what you are doing beyond the money that may or not be made from the deal. You create the impression for a favourable business environment and that influences the way that the discussions go.”

Guppy is the not the only one to see that some cultural catching up needs to be done. A number of hotel chains and properties are addressing the issue with their own programs, such as Accor’s Chinese Optimum Service Standards, which is in the process being rolled out across all its properties Australia-wide and aims to meet the “high expectations in terms of service” that Chinese visitors have, according to Simon McGrath, Accor’s vice president Australia.

The standards include translation of hotel welcome kits, restaurant and room service menus, hotel business cards and local maps highlighting places of interest, shopping and dining districts with translations in Mandarin.

The hotel mini-bar will stock new snack items to cater to different tastes including chai, marsala, and green tea, the breakfast buffet will include congee and noodles, and Chinese utensils will be on offer in the restaurant as well as a range of Chinese delicacies. International adaptor plugs and newspapers in Mandarin will also be provided to

Chinese delegates at SCEC.

guests complimentary.

In addition, the hotels have implemented training for all staff on Chinese cultural practices in association with local community groups, so that they can better understand the specific needs and requirements of these travellers.

However, smaller operators can also get up to speed with the cultural expectations of the Chinese with a number of courses soon to be available from training provider Avana.

Funded by the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, Avana has partnered with a number of other leading organisations in the Chinese tourism space, including China Ready & Accredited, ATEC and TAFE NSW – Western Sydney Institute, to create and deliver a nationwide Chinese cultural awareness training program for the Australian tourism, hospitality and retail industries.

With the program split into two main areas, training and

accreditation, the key topics covered include Chinese cultural awareness courses, as well as a number of other electives, such as Mandarin courses. Following a pilot period, the programs are currently being rolled out nationally with a roadshow across all states in partnership with individual state tourism organisations.

However, it’s not all a one-way street, with China developing very rapidly and its expectations “not set in stone”, according to Guppy, who maintains that the best

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www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 31

she says.

The 2012 Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress at SCEC.

accreditation is always going to be word of mouth.

“We are at a stage where we have doing so badly for so long that the Chinese expect to get lower levels of service,” he says. “But if you can improve just slightly you overwhelm people by the fact that you’ve done better that the current low standard. The only way is up.”

G’day in Mandarin The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre (SCEC) has recently hosted two major congresses that highlighted their capacity to handle large numbers of delegates from China – the 3000 delegate 2012 Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress and an

Amway event that attracted some 13,250 delegates from Hong Kong, Taiwan and China arriving in four waves over a three week-period.

Annabel Norris, SCEC director of sales – international, says the number of delegates from China hosted by the SCEC “has certainly grown in recent years, as Australia’s economic relations with China have strengthened”.

“We pride ourselves on our expertise in hosting Chinese visitors, and we know that many Chinese event organisers enjoy hosting their events at the Centre because we offer a one-stopshop, handling everything from event management and food and beverage needs through to AV requirements and stage designs,”

“Some events we hold are specifically for Chinese delegates, particularly in the corporate incentive area, but we are also seeing an increasing number of Chinese delegates attending many of the international congresses and conventions staged at the Centre.

For instance, we expect there will be a significant number of Chinese delegates at the World Congress on Lung Cancer which will be held here in October this year.”

The SCEC understands that Chinese visitors to Australia still seek a quintessential Aussie experience, which is why a three metre high model of the Sydney Opera House was created by the Centre team for the Parkside Foyer during the Chinese Life Insurance Congress, but that their experience of Australia is made more accessible by bridging the cultural hurdles of language, food and protocol.

“We like staff to be prepared for any event we hold, so before we host Chinese groups we ensure staff are well versed in their cultural differences and needs,” says Norris. “We also often ask the organiser to brief the

staff on the background of the organisation, the attendees and the history of the event.”

The Centre ensures Mandarin and Cantonese speakers from its staff are present, particularly on the main information desks, when it hosts Chinese delegates, as well as organising signage in Mandarin or simplified Chinese in all key areas of the Centre.

Food options are also tailored according to the delegates needs, and feature Chinese cuisine, such as banquets with up to seven or eight courses, with menus in the casual Bayside Lounge including Chinese translations.

“In the case of the Worldwide China Life Insurance Congress, we also produced a special sheet featuring 12 key questions and answers in Mandarin, covering topics such as locations for the nearest Monorail station and cash machines,” says Norris.

“This was available at our information desks and was widely used by delegates. In fact, it was such a success that we’ll be using it again at the Perfect China Leadership event for 3500 delegates, which will be held at the Centre in July this year.”

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32 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

cas e stu di es

Delegates onboard a Yellow Water Cruise.

Dream destination Delegates at Sleep DownUnder 2012, held in Darwin last year, were given the chance to participate in some of the top end’s best incentive activities.

Darwin was a dream destination for the organisers of “Sleep DownUnder 2012”-themed conference, held in October 2012. The 24th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Sleep Association (ASA) and the Australasian Sleep Technologists Association (ASTA), attracted more than 500 delegates from Australia, New Zealand

and Europe, who enjoyed an unforgettable trip to the Northern Territory’s tropical capital city with many also travelling into other areas of the territory.

As the peak scientific bodies in Australia and New Zealand representing clinicians, scientists and researchers in the broad area of sleep, the ASA and the ASTA pride themselves in presenting

the latest research, clinical updates and science to workers in the field of sleep disorders and sleep health.

The conference program, which was held over three days at the Darwin Convention Centre, examined sleep health and the impact of sleep disorders in Aboriginal communities as well as the impact of poor sleep on

the health of the nation such as the established links between sleep disturbance, diabetes and heart disease, with ASA president Shantha Rajaratnam saying that the findings demonstrate that healthy sleep is vital to maintaining health and should be viewed as the third pillar of good health, along with diet and exercise.

t s o m ’s d n la a e Z w e N

spectacular venue

Phone +64 3 441 0083 Fax +64 3 441 0088 or Email queenstownfunctions@skyline.co.nz skyline.co.nz Queenstown, New Zealand 34 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

Business Events Australia’s pick of activities for delegates Yellow Water Night Cruise, Gagudju, Kakadu National Park Sounds of silence dinner at Uluru.

In addition to the conference program, delegates were given the opportunity to participate in a number of hosted activities including fishing tours on the picturesque Darwin Harbour and journeys through the magnificent Katherine Gorge and Edith Falls.

Darwin was chosen as the ideal location for the 2012 meeting due to Australia’s expert knowledge in the field of science, its conference and event facilities, and its unique, natural beauty.

At the end the conference, delegates were able to experience the remarkable natural landscapes and wildlife, and marvel at the widest star-filled skies, found only in the NT.

Kakadu National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Listed property, less than two hours’ drive from Darwin. Occupied by Aboriginal people for at least 40,000 years, the park is steeped in rich culture and history.

Yellow Water Billabong, Kakadu’s most famous wetland, is located at the end of the South Alligator River. The river system, which is the largest in Kakadu, is the ideal home for over 60 bird species and Australia’s famous crocodiles.

Best experienced at sunset, the Yellow Water Cruise gives groups of delegates the chance to get up close to Australian wildlife such as crocodiles, buffalo and many species of native birds. A new addition to Yellow Water, night cruises offer the unique

experience of cruising in Kakadu underneath a sky packed with the brightest stars, surrounded by sounds of thriving wildlife and the splash of water from a croc’s tail.

Earth Sanctuary Star Tours – Alice Springs Only 15 minutes’ drive from Alice Springs in Australia’s “Red Centre”, is Earth Sanctuary World Nature Centre, offering ecological, cultural, astronomy and sustainability tours for group of delegates. Best known for their star tours, educational tours and “Spirit of the Outback” dinners, visitors to Earth Sanctuary will be amazed by the vast desert expanse as their “star guide” takes them on a journey through the spectacular Southern night sky.

Hear ancient stories of creation through the eyes of various world cultures and modern exploration,

from experienced, informative and entertaining guides.

Sounds of Silence – Uluru At the Sounds of Silence dining experience, delegates dine under a glittering canopy of stars, while a storyteller shares tales as told in the stars. Rather than walls, this openair restaurant is surrounded by a 360° view of this vast landscape.

In front is the fabled Uluru; behind are the domes of Kata Tjuta, and a spectacular sunset.

After enjoying a dinner of Australian wine and cuisine, attention then turns to some of the world’s best stargazing, as a “startalker” leads a tour of the southern night sky, which has to be seen to be believed.

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www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 35

Not just skin deep The 3rd World Congress of Dermoscopy, held in Brisbane last year, was one of the city’s first Advocate assisted conferences to take place.

With Brisbane often described as the “melanoma capital of the world”, thanks to both its high incidence of melanoma and, more importantly, its high density of world class researchers in the melanoma arena, it was the perfect place to host the 3rd World Congress of Dermoscopy in 2012.

The event saw 886 dermatologists and general practitioners from 32 countries converge on the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) for what was described as a “full three-day immersion in dermoscopy and related issues in the areas of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer”.

A first-time event for Australia and the Southern Hemisphere, the 3rd World Congress of Dermoscopy was bid for and won by Congress president Professor Peter Soyer,

at that time President of the International Dermoscopy Society and a Convention Advocate for Brisbane. Chair of dermatology research at the University of Queensland School of Medicine, Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, Soyer is one of 54 scientists, academics and business leaders who make up the BCEC Convention Advocates Partnership.

Internationally acknowledged leaders in their field, convention advocates champion the cause of Brisbane as a centre of scientific and business innovation and excellence and assist in securing new international meetings for Brisbane.

Congress objective To further promote and discuss the method of dermoscopy as a key tool for the early diagnosis of melanoma

as well as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. According to Soyer one of the great successes of the Congress was the number of informal discussions between the many delegates from all over the world, which he says contributed to cross fertilisation of scientific knowledge and expertise and new ideas and greater collaborations.

Event profile Hosted by the Australian College of Dermatologists, the Congress was an intense but rewarding three days of presentations and workshops as part of the scientific program which had input from both international and local dermatologists, dermoscopists and general practitioners.

well as engage with the pathology sector and other providers.

Legacies and outcomes Apart from the exchange of world leading scientific information, delegates were impressed with the high level and geographically widespread international participation, which is acknowledgement by the international dermoscopy community of the high level of work and research being done in the field of early skin cancer detection in Australia.

Feedback Soyer congratulated Brisbane and the Centre for the successful hosting of the Congress.

There were also lively and engaging components of the program, including The Dermoscopy World Cup which involved delegates from all countries competing against one another in the diagnosis of 40 difficult and somewhat controversial dermoscopic cases with Italy taking out the cup.

“Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre is world class and located as it is in the heart of the beautiful South Bank Precinct and all it has to offer, is perfectly suited for an international event of this dimension and shows the best of what we have to offer our international delegates,” he said.

A bustling trade fair allowed delegates to learn about new dermoscopes, imaging, machines, and other diagnosis technology as

International Dermoscopy Society President, Professor Geppi Argenziano, proclaimed the Congress “the best ever”.

the food, the wine, the experience.

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Tea tasting at ZhiShan Garden, Taipei.

Credit where credit’s due Delegates from 50-plus countries gathered in the financial centre of Taipei in October for the 8th World Consumer Credit Reporting Conference.

The 8th World Consumer Credit Reporting Conference (WCCRC) was held in Taipei from Oct 21-23, 2012, with more than 200 delegates from more than 50 countries attending. The three-day conference was held at the W Taipei hotel in the bustling Xinyi District.

The Conference is jointly held every two years by America’s Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA) and the EU’s Association of Consumer Credit Information Suppliers, with credit bureaus as well as credit card companies, lenders and government officials from around the world gathering to share their experiences and discuss the current state of the industry.

Hosted locally by Taiwan’s Joint Credit Information Center (JCIC), this was only the second time the conference has been held in Asia.

The event kicked off with a welcome reception and dinner at the National Palace Museum (NPM), one of Taiwan’s must-visit attractions, on October 21.

The reception began at the NPM’s Zhishan Garden, where the delegates enjoy an aperitif, as well as a Chinese instrumental music performance. As the daylight ebbed, NPM staff guided guests to the main building with lanterns, where they enjoyed Taiwanese snacks and private access to the museum’s exhibition halls, with the choice of joining a guided tour or looking at the exhibits at their own pace. The evening finished with a sumptuous meal at the Museum’s restaurant.

“After they saw the ‘meat-shaped stone’ and ‘jadeite cabbage,’ they enjoyed the real thing at dinner, which was served at the Silks Palace at National Palace Museum,” says conference organiser Grace Wang from GIS Group.

With delegates coming from more than 50 countries, one of the challenges of the event was serving food that fits both their tastes and their dietary habits.

“We spent a lot of time discussing the foodservice, including the culinary process, since some of the delegates are from Islamic countries, others are vegetarian, or don’t take shellfish,” says Wang.

Summing up the event, Norm Magnuson, vice president of public affairs for the CDIA, said the conference was a “fantastic” success.

“I can’t say enough about JCIC; this was a credit to their organisation, a credit to their management skills, and to the individuals involved in the organisation,” he said. “I know from delegates’ feedback, it was phenomenal.”

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Jeffrey Lin, manager of JCIC’s Risk Analysis Department, said that bringing the conference to Taiwan has marked a milestone for his organisation “The meaning is profound, to JCIC and to Taiwan,” he said.

“The delegates were impressed by our hospitality and friendliness, and we have shown them our competence in hosting an international conference.”

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gol d coa st QT Gold Coast.

Better than ever

With a wide array of new and newly refurbished facilities, innovative leisure and incentive activities, and world-famous scenery, the Gold Coast offers event organisers more than ever before, writes Ylla Wright.

While Queensland’s Gold Coast has long been popular with leisure travellers, the city has improved its offerings for business events significantly in recent years, making it a serious contender for business events of all sizes.

chief executive of Gold Coast Tourism. “The corporate visitor spends up to five times that of the average leisure visitor on the Gold Coast. Last year [2011] the corporate sector was worth over $273 million to the city.

made infrastructure and experiences is continually being raised”.

It’s a sector Gold Coast Tourism is actively targeting, with the Gold Coast Convention Bureau recently hosting a number of delegates from the PCO Association Conference, held at landmark venue Jupiters Hotel & Casino in December, on a two-night familiarisation of the city which showcased many of the city’s new and newly refurbished facilities.

“The Gold Coast’s popularity with corporate visitors is obvious; we attract 33 per cent more delegates to our events than any other destination in Queensland and delegates stay an average 4.5 days on the Gold Coast which is almost twice the average for most other destinations.

“In the lead up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games, planned infrastructure is being expedited to cater for the scope of this exciting event, adding to the destination’s existing appeal for planning a conference or corporate incentive.”

“Business events are an important part of the Gold Coast tourism mix, as they attract big numbers of corporate visitors right throughout the year, contributing significantly to our success in factors of yield and influence,” says Martin Winter,

“Last year the corporate visitor sector grew 10 per cent and we are working relentlessly to continue that positive trend.”

While the coast’s golden beaches and picturesque hinterland are a major drawcard that does “half the job”, according to Winter, he’s quick to point out that “the bar for man-

“More than any other city in Australia, the range of 5-star hotel options is on the increase as well as perpetual refurbishments of popular MICE hotels and venues,” he says.

One of the biggest projects currently underway on the Gold Coast is the construction of the light rail system, which is on track for completion in mid-2014. Stage one of the project will consist of a 13-kilometre light rail corridor, with 16 stations, connecting the health and knowledge precinct of Gold Coast University Hospital and Griffith University to the

38 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

A Mad Hatters Tea Party-themed event at QT Gold Coast.

growing commercial, retail and recreational centres of Southport, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

It’s hoped that the corridor will be extended to Gold Coast Airport before the Commonwealth Games.

For delegates attending congresses at the Gold Coast Exhibition and Convention Centre, or events at Jupiters Hotel & Casino, both at Broadbeach, the light rail corridor will make a greater range of accommodation options easily accessible.

The coast has also seen significant investment in hotel infrastructure, including new properties such as the luxurious apartment-style Sea Temple, opposite Surfers Paradise Beach, which opened in September, and the Hilton Surfers Paradise, which celebrated its first birthday late last year.

Existing properties that have benefitted from significant investment include the lushly landscaped Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa, which completed a major refurbishment in 2011, including its conference rooms and facilities. The facilities now include 22000sqm of event space including nine meeting rooms, a pillarless 700sqm Grand Ballroom with vehicle hoist, and exclusive marina on the Nerang River, which can be used for transferring delegates to the Resort by boat.

The Sheraton Mirage Resort & Spa completed the second phase of a $26 million refurbishment plan in September 2012, which saw the transformation of its meeting spaces including its Mirage Grand Ballroom. The Gold Coast’s only absolute beachfront resort, the landscaped pool area is the ideal spot for welcome drinks or a gala dinner, accompanied by the sound of the crashing waves (for more on the Sheraton Mirage Resort & Spa, see page 12).

International Hotels Group (IHG) has also shown faith in the Gold Coast as a destination, taking over the management of the former Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove as of December 2012. InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort will be

IHG’s first InterContinental Resort in Australia, and will introduce the InterContinental brand to Queensland. IHG’s new management at Sanctuary Cove follows recent meetings the company has held with the Queensland Government to increase its portfolio in the Sunshine State.

The Gold Coast is also raising the bar in term of its food and beverage offerings. At the quirky QT Gold Coast, Bazaar, a 240-seat interactive marketplace with food by executive chef Luke Stepsys, formerly of Wildfire in Sydney, has proved popular with locals and delegates alike.

For groups the hotel also offers experiences such as the delightfully whimsical “Mad Hatter’s Tea Party”-themed dinner which the recent PCO famil group experienced. Greeted by the Mad Hatter, and trays of bottles labelled “drink me”, guests are introduced to Alice, the Queen of Hearts and a real-life white rabbit grazing on astro-turf, before being led to a themed dining area, complete with croquet lawn. Artisan ice-creams served from a retro combivan (with accompanying lolly bar), popcorn and a screening of Alice in Wonderland round out the evening.

At the Hilton Surfers Paradise celebrity chef Luke Mangan has opened his renowned Salt Grill, serving Modern Australian cuisine using the finest local produce, and he is also responsible for the catering throughout the hotel. Activities for groups include “mixology” classes in Fix Bar, where delegates learn how to mix some of the hotel’s signature cocktails (and sampling a few along the way). Smaller groups can also dine in one of the private suites overlooking the sparkling lights of Surfers paradise and beyond.

At Sea Temple Surfers Paradise, former Palazzo Versace executive chef Steve Szabo has recently taken

Moonlight Crag at O’Reilly’s Retreat.

View slideshow in the CIM iPad app.

over the kitchen at Seaduction, the apartment-style hotel’s awardwinning restaurant.

falcons and eagles in free flight, followed by a personal photo taken with one of the stars of the show.

Meanwhile, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, located on the picturesque Gold Coast Hinterland, a scenic 90-minute drive from the heart of the Gold Coast or easy flight over the treetops courtesy of Gold Coast Helitours, offers dining options including a degustation lunch or dinner cooked in the rainforest and served on the Moonlight Crag Dining Deck, 60 metres above the Albert River, with panoramic views of the Great Dividing Range and the Lamington National Park.

The Outrigger Surfers Paradise, in conjunction with “wellness specialists” Life’s a Gym, offers a complimentary one hour “wake up workout” on the beach for groups over 30, which can be built into the start of a day of sessions or into a session to revitalise delegates.

Along with its natural beauty and first-rate facilities, the Gold Coast’s diverse range of innovative activities which can be built into incentive or conference programs, often without leaving the conference venue, is also a key part of the region’s appeal for events organisers.

O’Reilly’s intimate conference facilities, for example, are complemented by a range of activities for groups including offroad Segway tours and wildlife encounters. A highlight is a “Birds of Prey” show where groups can watch aerial predators such as owls,

Golf resort RACV Royal Pines has recently partnered with Time Out Xperiences to offer Segway activities, including adventure tours and Segway golf, as well as activites such as laser clay shooting; OzBubbles, which allows guests to walk on water inside a giant plastic sphere, and Bobbing Heads, which sees guests star in their own personalised video.

Even transfers can become part of the fun, with options including vintage cars, courtesy of the local car club, and zero emission electric motor boats imported from the US. With so much on offer on the Gold Coast, it’s little wonder that the region continues to impress event organisers, clients and delegates alike. ● Ylla Wright was a guest of the Gold Coast Convention Bureau.

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 39

ca ter i n g

Top food trends for 2013 Victor Pisapia, executive chef, Victor’s Food, Sydney People are looking for big flavours instead of little bites of cute food. So, we expect Peruvian, Mexican and “dude food” will become more popular at food events as clients seek more diversity from different parts of the world. And, as always people are seeking food that is easy to eat in one bite so they can still hold onto their wine glass to make it easy for them to keep networking or socialising with their companions.

These two factors will push “Street Food” – hawker style dishes – to the forefront.

Clients also want to know that a company is working hard to be more sustainable so ecoplates of bamboo and the like will be the

Sugar cured Atlantic salmon from the Atlantic Group [v].

predominate type of eating plates and utensils.

Think unique fresh ceviches in banana leaf cones; tequila prawns on Asian spoons; pulled pork soft mini tacos with kimchee; Malay style dishes, and anything on sugar cane skewers.

Expect Dulce de Leche to pop up on a lot of dessert selections.

Tom Milligan, executive chef, catering operations, Atlantic Group [v], Melbourne

Interactive food experiences and culinary theatre are a big trend at the moment. In 2012 we created a hanging dessert buffet and liquid nitrogen bar for one client, which was not A Victor’s Food teambuilding cooking class in action.

only bursting with gourmet delights but also a sensory feast.

Interactive experiences challenge traditional notions of food and beverage service, add an element of surprise to a special event, create a talking point for guests and make the food part of the overall theme. This style of food presentation also gives the guests freedom to choose what they eat.

Photos by Dean Cambray/Atlantic Group [V]; Victor’s Food; Adelaide Convention Centre; Fresh Catering.

Clients asking “what’s for dinner”? We asked seven chefs at the forefront of business events catering for their picks of the top food trends in 2013.

Peter McCloskey, managing director, Fresh Catering, Sydney Shared platters and dishes served on a board or slate are trending heavily now and we’re having a lot of fun experimenting with this kind of presentation. The three-course meal is replaced by dishes which can be shared, allowing diners the opportunity to taste a greater variety of food in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Culturally branded food such as Latin American is a hot trend right now, and with that concept in mind, we aim to transport the diner to the country of that particular cuisine by achieving an authentic, cultural experience for their guests.

For the second year running, Fresh Catering is exclusive caterer at Opera Australia’s Opera on Sydney Harbour showing Carmen, and we’re

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D

Artist impression: The Grandstand

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40 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

Artist impression: ‘Theatre of the Horse’

This idea is tied in part to a wider lifestyle change Australia is experiencing, with guests wanting to lead a healthier, cleaner lifestyle.

For us in the culinary world this means less processed meals and the opportunity to prepare healthier, fresher cuisine using a variety of ingredients.

This lifestyle change is heavily influencing the menus we create for events throughout The Star, including the new Event Centre. It is all about original flavours and crisp ingredients paired with unique wines. We have always believed in challenging the pre-conceived idea of pre-prepared event cuisine; it offers us more creative license with how we deliver quality cuisine at every event.

Tze Khaw, executive chef, Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide Fresh Catering’s marinated chicken guindillas on brioche rolls.

really pushing the boundaries of what can be done in an outdoor setting hosting several authentic dining options from fine dining Spanish banquets, to tapas bars, and Spanish BBQ menus, to gourmet hampers, making the evening a whole event experience for the visitor.

Garry Kindred, executive chef, Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast With the soaring popularity of today’s cooking TV programmes, live cooking demonstrations are emerging as a popular catering trend. Spurred by client interest and demand, we saw an opportunity to introduce “live cooking stations” at banquet and conferencing events.

Other popular client requests have been the reinvention of some of the old classics and “dude food” that have been re-styled into a “grab and go” concept for a faster service approach.

Examples include providing a pie base and various filling options allowing delegates to pick and choose ingredients that are cooked to order.

Driven by client demand, we’ve also seen an emergence of nostalgic dining, which I believe will be a growing catering trend throughout 2013. What’s old is now new, so we are stripping dishes back to basics and utilising classic

People come to the Adelaide Convention Centre to experience a taste of South Australia so locally sourced produce is a priority for us. cooking in synergy with modern techniques and presentation methods.

Martin Latter, executive chef, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Provenance of food and sourcing of product is heading to a whole new level, with our clients very knowledgeable about, and focused on, individual products and individual growers. It’s not just a question of asparagus originating from a region; it is a particular type of asparagus sourced from one specialist grower.

Food, and the whole experience of food, is at the centre of catering and hospitality events today. We are finding that particularly with our national and international organisers and guests.

They are looking for greater personal contact and interaction with food – it is the complete experience they are looking for.

South Australia’s clean environment has led it to become known for its local seafood, cheeses, fresh vegetables and meat as well as the quality of our wines. The Centre is also working with small specialist producers including a group of indigenous growers who now supply us with fresh herbs.

At the Centre we’ve noticed the increasing popularity of comfort food such as slow cooked dishes, braises and purees as these dishes often transport you to a special place or spur pleasant childhood memories.

Diners are also more health conscious so tend to opt for dishes with clean flavours that lets the produce speak for itself.

Confit duck maryland with white bean puree, cassoulet toulousain, gremolata and orange gastrique from the ACC.

Andy North, director of culinary, The Star, Sydney Leading the trends across the industry is the idea around “paddock to plate”, that is, quality, and fresh food sourced from local producers that is not imported or processed.

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www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 41

ve nu e u pd a te

Wellington to get Sofitel The New Zealand capital Wellington is to get its first internationally-branded luxury hotel in over two decades with the Sofitel Wellington scheduled to open in 2014. The 130-room hotel is being developed out of the former Apple & Pear Board Office Building, and will feature extensive function and meeting rooms including a 120sqm conference room and two smaller meeting rooms.

“The development of the Sofitel will play a major role in further elevating Wellington’s international profile,” said Wouter de Graaf, area general manager Sofitel New Zealand. “It is a long time since a hotel development of this status and quality has been announced in the national capital and it will help attract significant increases in tourism, business travel and conferences to the city.”

Fresh look for Grand Mercure Pinnacle Apartments The Accor-owned Grand Mercure Pinnacle Apartments in Sydney’s

hectares of forests with panoramic views over the Capital’s Parliamentary Triangle, Lake Burley Griffin and the central valley of the ACT. The Arboretum also caters to the events sector offering a unique visitor experience and 5-star facilities for gala dinners and corporate events.

The main building of the Arboretum, the Village Centre, provides an elegant, light-filled space for cocktail receptions, formal dinners, functions and ceremonies, available from 4pm each day for events and catering to approximately 500 guests.

Pyrmont district has completed a full upgrade of its accommodation rooms and public areas incorporating a new “Urban Chic Urban Series” design. All apartments feature a media hub for state of the art connectivity through a 40” TV, as well as new bedding, furniture and soft furnishings.

“We have installed double glazing in the bedrooms to ensure an even better sleep, combined with the installation of lavish drapes, which we believe will significantly enhance the ambience and guest experience,” said Wayne Greenwood, general manager resort operations of Accor Vacation Club.

Starwood debuts Sheraton Shanghai Waigaoqiao Hotel

The Pavilion provides a more intimate facility for meetings, cocktail functions and dinners for approximately 120 guests, while the Amphitheatre has the capacity to hold outdoor events for over 4000 people.

Ritz-Carlton set for Chengdu The Ritz-Carlton is set to launch its first property in Southwest China when The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu opens later this year in the heart of the capital of Sichuan province. The hotel will have 353 rooms, including 55 suites, and feature three restaurants including an elegant Cantonese with eight private dining rooms. There will also be 1716sqm of space of meeting spaces, including a Grand Ballroom, Junior Ballroom and seven additional meeting rooms.

Herve Humler, president and chief operations officer at The

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of Sheraton Shanghai Waigaoqiao Hotel, located in the Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone at the mouth of the Yangtze River, and marks Starwood’s 11th property in Shanghai.

The 440-room hotel has over 2600sqm of meeting space, including a 1000sqm ballroom.

“As a key trading port as well as one of the biggest economic contributors among all free trade zones in China, Waigaoqiao houses many international and domestic companies, triggering strong demand for a world renowned upper-upscale hospitality brand,” said Qian Jin, president, Greater China, Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

Canberra’s new National Arboretum opens The National Arboretum, Canberra’s newest attraction, is home to 250

The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu.

42 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company said that Chengdu is a key economic, transport and communication hub in Western China and that The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu will be “a new beacon of luxury hospitality in Southwest China”.

Starwood to enter the Philippines Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to introduce its two largest brands – Westin and Sheraton – to two new multi-billion dollar integrated entertainment complexes in the Philippine capital, Manila.

Starwood will manage The Westin Manila Bayshore, scheduled to open in mid-2016 as part of the Resorts World Bayshore in the Entertainment City development in Parañaque, and Sheraton Manila Hotel in the Resorts World Manila development located in Newport City, Pasay. The Sheraton Manila Hotel is slated for opening in early 2017.

“We are excited about the rebirth of these two well-known and recognised international hotel brands from Starwood and welcome them back in the Philippines,” said Chuck Abbott, regional vice president, Southeast Asia, Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

Toga offers free wi-fi Toga Hotels is offering free wi-fi in selected spaces across 25 of its hotels.

The free w-fi is available in the hotel’s bars, restaurants and lobbies, with the remaining 28 hotels expected to roll out the service later this year.

Adina Apartment Hotels, Medina Apartment Hotels and Vibe Hotels will all offer 30 minutes free access per guest, per day and Travelodge Hotels will offer 15 minutes free

access per guest, per day.

“It is important that we are continually raising the bar for our guests who are always on the go and need to be in touch with their families and for work while they are travelling,” said Rachel Argaman, CEO of Toga Hotels.

Pullman debuts in Vietnam Accor has opened the Pullman Hanoi, the first Pullman hotel in Vietnam.

Previously known as Hanoi Horison Hotel, Pullman Hanoi recently completed a comprehensive refurbishment that transformed it into one of the city’s most modern 5-star properties. In Asia Pacific, there are now 38 Pullman Hotels in operation with a further committed pipeline of 35 hotels.

The 242-room hotel has seven Meeting Rooms and a Ballroom that can accommodate up to 600 guests, all located on the same floor, as well as free wi-fi internet access in rooms and all public areas.

Hilton Queenstown opens Lakeside Residencies Hilton Queenstown has opened its new Hilton Lakeside Residences, comprising 42 one- and two-bedroom hotel residences with apartment style facilities.

Positioned right on the lakefront, facing north for longer sunshine hours, most residences have panoramic views overlooking Lake Wakatipu. The residences come

The IHG signing ceremony in Jakarta.

equipped with fully-equipped kitchens and laundry facilities and are suitable for executive retreats and corporate groups.

Byron Bay gets new conference facilities The Byron Community Centre has opened newly upgraded conference facilities following an injection of funding from the New South Wales Government.

“The much loved Byron Community Centre has long been known for community events in Byron Shire and is now set to be known as one of the top venues for events on the North Coast of NSW” said Minister for the North Coast and Member for Ballina Don Page.

Located in the centre of Byron Bay within walking distance to a wide selection of accommodation, dining options and the beach, the Community Centre and Byron Theatre has a capacity of nearly 250, making it ideal for small to medium sized conferences, business meetings and functions.

The 246 seat amphitheatre style Byron Theatre is complemented by two break-out rooms, foyers, a courtyard and covered verandah.

Parkroyal on Pickering opens in Singapore Parkroyal on Pickering in Singapore has opened, boasting over 15,000sqm of four-storey tall sky-gardens, reflecting pools, waterfalls, planter terraces and cascading vertical greenery, amounting to twice its land area. The 367-room hotel breaks new ground by introducing the state’s first solar-powered skygardens. Amongst its other energy conservation features are the use of automatic light, rain and motion sensors, rain harvesting and recycled water.

The hotel offers meeting and events spaces, with flexible configurations for up to 800 guests, the largest being the pillar-less William Pickering ballroom, with

IHG heading to Jakarta InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced it will open a mixed use 480-key property development in Jakarta. Scheduled to open in 2015, the InterContinental Jakarta Pondok Indah Hotel & Residences comprises approximately 300 hotel rooms and 180 serviced residences and will be centrally located in the Pondok Indah district of South Jakarta.

floor-to-ceiling glass walls. The exclusive Orchid Club Lounge, located at the top level of the hotel, is equipped with private meeting spaces and dedicated Club Concierge service.

Accor partners with RSL Accor has signed an exclusive partnership agreement with the Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) to benefit RSL members across Australia, including accommodation savings at Accor’s 200 hotels across Australia and 3500 hotels globally.

Under the agreement, Accor will provide RSL with a complete range of benefits and offers to their members, including accommodation savings at Accor’s hotels across Australia and globally.

In addition, RSL members will be

able to get significant membership discounts to Accor’s loyalty programme, Advantage Plus. As official Hotel & Resort Partner for RSL, Accor will also support the RSL organisation in fund raising activities and promotions.

New name for The Marque Hotel Sydney The Marque Hotel Sydney has been renamed Rendezvous Studio Hotel Sydney Central as part of Rendezvous Hospitality Group’s (RHG) push to unite its Rendezvous Hotels and The Marque Hotel portfolio into one Rendezvous brand.

Rendezvous Studio Hotel Sydney Central joins Auckland, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Singapore as part of the transition to incorporate a new hotel logo, signage and brochures.

Choose our Premium Conference Package for only $95 pp and enjoy upgraded refreshment and lunch options!

The choice is yours Introducing the Deluxe Conference Package from Swissôtel Sydney. Experience the same fantastic Swissôtel service in our newly renovated conference and meeting space with our brand new Deluxe Conference Package for only $79 pp.

For enquires or to make a booking call 02 9238 8888 or events.sydney@swissotel.com Valid for new bookings only. The above day packages only apply to groups of 10 delegates or more. A minimum spend will be applied to each event based on the size of the room required.

68 Market Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 43

p co a sso c i a ti o n

How to ask for a pay rise If asking for a pay rise seems stressful, arm yourself with some simple strategies for success, says Hugh Gyton.

For some, asking for a pay rise may be as simple as asking “can I have a pay rise?”. For the majority it is likely to be more complicated and fraught with angst. So how might we give ourselves the best chance of nailing this highstake conversation?

Be prepared Don’t go into this conversation cold: • Make sure you already know how your manager feels about your performance • Think about what specific evidence you can provide as to why a pay rise is justified

Be reasonable Some questions to ask yourself: do you deserve a pay rise? What’s in it for the firm? If you were your employer would you give yourself one?

Are you focused on delivering value for the company? Are you engaged in positive attitudes and behaviours such that they would choose to have you stay with the organisation and look to motivate you by agreeing to the request?

Be open to what your employer has to say, listen respectfully, avoid getting defensive, avoid “I want/I need” statements or ultimatums, and being emotional. If money isn’t an option explore other ways of being rewarded with your

employer. Get creative and work together on how things could be re-arranged to meet both parties requirements. Are there are other incentives that are easier for the company to agree to that would go some way to assisting your situation.

If not now, then ask when and what specifically you have to achieve to justify the pay rise. Agree a plan of action with review points to check in on how you’re going.

So, if a simple “can I have a pay rise?” isn’t going to work for you, prepare, be reasonable and be indispensible. Good luck! ● Hugh Gyton is founder of Hugh Gyton &

Associates and a consultant to the PCO Association.

• Ask yourself if your performance is relative to your job description, peers and the market Be focused on why your employer might agree you deserve a pay rise rather than why you need one.

Be specific about the value you provide. How have you improved a process, increased efficiency, positively promoted the brand, lived the corporate values, increased profitability, or solved a customer issue?

Put yourself in your employer’s shoes. How might they respond to your request? What is your response going to be if they say “no”?

In my experience the more you prepare and address what you fear most might happen in a conversation the less likely it will. You are psychologically prepared for it and if it does appear then you handle it so much better.

Don’t forget the basics of timing, location and how your employer prefers to communicate.

Set yourself up for success by dealing with them in the way they clearly prefer to be dealt with. If your manager is analytical, loves detail and reports, give her that. If they are not into detail, don’t.

The more prepared you are the more confident you will be in the conversation. The more confident you are the better you will project yourself, and the more convincing your case will sound. Put another way, if you don’t believe you deserve a pay rise, why should they?

PCO Association NEWS PCO Association launches “Business Partner Program”

• Opportunity to display “Business Partner to the PCO Association” logo

Following extensive discussions with our members and industry suppliers, the PCO Association has launched the “Business Partner Program” to facilitate engagement between PCOs and the greater conference, meetings and events community. The program is available to organisations with an interest in, or who supply to, the conference and events sector.

• Attendance at PCO professional development seminars and forums, conferences and events at the member registration rate

For an annual fee of $2200 (inc GST), Business Partners will receive:

For more details, or to apply, please contact the PCO Secretariat on 1300 441 099 or email admin@pco.asn.au

• Recognition as a Business Partner to the PCO Association • Public recognition of support, branding and association in various PCO marketing and communication materials (for example, e-news publications, hyperlink on the PCO website, industry magazines) • Opportunity to drive new business and reinforce existing relationships with PCO members

44 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

• Opportunity to participate in the PCO annual conference with a discount on selected exhibitor and sponsor package fees • Listing on the PCO “Business Partner” page on the PCO website

PCO industry forums This March the forums will focus on the topic of risk management and its application to conference and event management. Presented

by Paul Chivers from “riskfacilitator”, the workshops will provide participants with techniques and tools to take back to the office.

Social media monitoring for your event Keeping track of an event’s social media impact in real time maximises its value for organisers and attendees alike, writes Matt Hnatojko.

The enormous take up of social media at events (and in general) has also made way for social media monitoring (SMM) tools. These web based tools filter through social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram scanning for event keywords/tags and brand mentions while collecting analytics and reproducing them in invaluable real time reports. Social media monitoring allows you to see what influence your event is having on attendees and the entire online social community.

Social media monitoring and social engagement is excellent customer service. According to Martiz Research more than 80 per cent of customers who received responses from an organisation after tweeting about it say they have a heightened opinion of that brand and are likely to tell their friends about it.

What if someone posted negative comments to Facebook or Twitter and other attendees take it at face value? It’s very common for attendees to post about their experiences at the event.

Monitoring the posts in real-time gives you the opportunity to take action on negative or misinformed posts and remedy or correct the potential problem almost immediately. For example, if an attendee tweeted about the lack of drink stations during a conference, you have the opportunity to respond and remedy the problem before the next session breaks. If this post was missed, or written on post-event feedback forms, you’ve missed the opportunity to make changes for this event. The feedback would be noted for next year – which is often too late.

Dates and venues have been confirmed as follows: Brisbane: Friday March 8 – Hotel Urban Brisbane Melbourne: Tuesday March 12 – Rydges Swanston Sydney: Friday March 15 – Rydges North Sydney Social media will once again be under discussion, this time with an emphasis on social media and the law – a “must know” for all conference and event managers.

How is this is different from logging into individual social accounts and responding? A key difference is SMM tools bring all of your social accounts into a single, easy to manage dashboard.

It presents trending posts and interactions across multiple social media platforms. It can report based on demographics, geographic location and even measure global reach – information that the likes of Facebook and Twitter don’t make available to you. In short, SMM adds value to your social media platforms, allowing you to leverage the information collected to improve your event, attendee interaction and brand awareness.

Social media monitoring also offer one of the most invaluable tools to an event organiser – the ability to schedule social posts. Let face it, during an event the last thing on the to-do list is update Facebook and Twitter. However, there is no need to neglect your social community during the event – SMM tools allow you to schedule posts days, weeks or months in advance, ensuring posts are constant and consistent during the event.

The list of web-based SMM tools is quite extensive (there are more than 200 online tools available), but there are some key points to remember when researching SMM.

Budget Social media monitoring subscriptions range from $29.95 per month to above $10,000 a month. In a recent survey 54 per cent of companies spend less than $100 per month on SMM, while only 2 per cent spend over $10,000.

Deciding what your budget is will untimely demine what SMM subscription is right for

• How much is the client actually paying for the services provided?

• Advantages and disadvantages of the different PCO/client relationships.

• How are the different models reflected in client contracts?

• How are the difference models reflected in event budgets?

Registration fees offer great value for members and non-members. All are welcome to attend, and registrations are now open. Full details are available on the PCO website.

• How many hours are actually required to successfully manage the various components of an event?

Thanks to the support of our industry partners (Hotel Urban Brisbane, Rydges Hotels & Resorts, and Microhire).

The session will not only be of interest to all PCOs, but to venues, suppliers, associations, and anyone who purchases PCO services.

AIME knowledge

The PCO Association will also have a presence at the trade exhibition, with information on Accreditation, the 2013 National Conference, and the newly released Business Partner Program.

The PCO Association will be participating in the Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo’s (AIME) educational seminars, presenting on the topic “PCO Business Models – the real cost of events”. The session will explore the various business models used by PCOs in calculating and presenting management fees, specifically: • The various methods used by PCOs in proposing a management fee.

• What are the dangers of mis-representation?

Look forward to seeing you at this year’s AIME on February 26-27.

you. But don’t be fooled – 61 per cent of people surveyed say they are happy with their SMM tool for under $100 per month.

Functionality Can it work and still be simple? Yes! Ease of use falls just below price when organisers are looking at investing in SMM. The ability to schedule updates and ability to integrate with many different social networks reduces the worries and complications of updating multiple social media platforms (update status on Facebook, Tweet on Twitter etc.).

Resources Can you afford to dedicate one of your team members solely to SMM? Ideally this person would be responsible for monitoring and reporting and ensuring correct responses or actions be taken. If you can’t afford giving up a resource, you should look into SMM tools that allow for automatic interactions and reporting.

These SMM subscriptions use advanced algorithms to take online actions against certain messages generated by the online community.

These are some good questions to ask when looking for the right SMM tool. You also need to understand your priorities and what you expect to achieve out of social media – this will assist you in comparing and choosing right tool for your event. Social media is happening now and SMM allows you to control how your event is being perceived and how the online community is influenced. Finding the right tool to ensure you understand your attendees and deliver them the best possible experience is the key to getting value out of your social media platforms. ● Matt Hnatojko is project manager at Jomablue and a consultant to the PCO Association.

PCO National Conference 2013 The 2013 PCO National Conference will be held at The Sebel & Citigate, Albert Park, Melbourne, from November 28-30. Make sure the dates are in your diary.

And when you have a chance, check out the photos from the 2012 National Conference on the PCO website (go to the “Conference” page and follow the instructions).

Conference & Event Insurance Our Business Partner, H2 Conference & Exhibition Insurance provides very competitive quotes for conferences, events, and exhibitions.

For information regarding insurance, contact Nicholas Jobling or Jason Holmes on (07) 3123 6919 or www.h2is.com.au/conference.

PCOnline Wine Don’t forget to check out the PCOnline Wine Club specials on the PCO website in the “Service” section.

For more information, visit www.pco.asn.au www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 45

meeting people Como Hotels and Resorts have appointed Paul Linder as the new general manager of its Bali properties including Uma Ubud and Como Shambhala Estate. He brings a wealth of industry knowledge to the role having previously worked in senior management positions for The Shilla Hotel Seoul, The Oriental in Bangkok and Badrutt’s Palace in St Moritz. Most recently he was general manager at Chiva-Som in Thailand for more than 10 years.

Will Creedon (pictured) has recently been appointed chairman of Tourism Hunter. He joins three new members that have joined the board. They include Dr Tamara Young, a lecturer on Tourism Management at the University of Newcastle; David Nye, currently the manager aviation and business development for Newcastle Airport, and Simon Glover, general manager of Novotel Brighton Beach.

James Cavanagh (pictured) has been appointed general manager of Eichardt’s Private Hotel in Queenstown.

He has 15 years experience in luxury properties in Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand. He replaces Chris McIntosh who is leaving to join Blackstone Hospitality in Auckland as general manager.

Rendezvous Hotel Group (RHG) has made a number of recent changes to their senior staff structure. Emilio Fortini has been appointed senior vice president of hotel operations; he joined RHG in 2007 and was most recently general manager of Rendezvous Grand Hotel Adelaide.

Justin Philip will take on the role of area general manager, Western Australia; previously he was area general manager in Brisbane. Scott Wilkinson has been appointed general manager of Rendezvous Grand Hotel Adelaide.

Replacing him as general manager of Rendezvous Reef Resort Port

Douglas is Luke Macdonald. He will be reporting to Matthew Horvat who is the new area general manager of Queensland.

Most recently he was area general manager of Western Australia.

The Royal International Convention Centre in Brisbane has appointed Natasha Hardy as the RNA Showground’s business development manager. She brings to this new role over 10 years experience in producing and delivering C&I activities in Australia. Her previous experience includes senior events manager for Loud Events, national conference manager for the Institute of Public Administration Australia and event producer for the Brisbane Festival.

Gold Coast Tourism has announced the appointment of Anna Case to the role of director of business events. She has extensive knowledge and experience in the industry having previously worked for Tourism Australia, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Encore Business Tourism and SquareOne Events.

Jeremy Nordkamp has been appointed general manager of Pepper’s Beach Club in Port Douglas.

In his new position he will be responsible for raising the profile of the property as a quality conferencing destination.

MCI Australia has made recent changes to its management team.

Former managing director Ray Shaw has been appointed chairman of the board of directors and a nonexecutive director. Replacing him as managing director is Stephan Wurzinger who is also director of association relations for AsiaPacific. Wurzinger brings 14 years experience in the events industry to the role, having managed his own conference business in Dubai and leading event companies in Singapore and South Africa. Jarome

Buchanan has been appointed to the role of sponsorship and development manager.

RACV Royal Pines Resort has appointed Lesley Campbell to the role of senior sales manager conference and events, based in Sydney. In this role she will be responsible for representing all RACV Clubs & Resorts Resorts including Royal Pines Resort, Noosa Resort and the City Club in Melbourne. Prior to this she spent 13 years as sales manager for the New Zealand Heritage Hotel Group.

Scott Murray has been appointed general manager of Hayman Island. He has most recently spent six years as hotel manager for One & Only Royal Mirage in Dubai where he was responsible for three hotels and managed over 1000 team members.

MCI Australia has appointed Rebecca Schepers to the role of director of association relations, where she will be responsible for leading MCI’s PCO business development unit in Australia.

She has more than eight years experience in the events industry, specialising in event management, business development, communications and marketing.

Steven Smith (pictured) has been appointed senior director of CWT Meetings & Events, AsiaPacific. He has extensive knowledge of the events industry having worked in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Most recently he was based in Singapore where he was managing director for International Quality and Productivity Centre.

In his new role he will be based in Singapore and work alongside Floyd Widener who was appointed global leader for the company earlier this year.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board has announced the appointment of Kenneth Wong as the general manager of MICE and Cruise.

He has been with the board for more than 10 years, most recently as head of product marketing.

46 Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 www.cimmagazine.com

In his new role he will oversee the implementation of business strategies of the Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong office and develop plans to expand the cruise business in Hong Kong.

CWT Meetings and Events has announced the appointment of Gloria Nykl as meetings and event director for Australia and New Zealand.

She has 15 years experience in the events industry including six years with Axis Event Group where she was operations manager and most recently general manager operations.

Outrigger on the Lagoon, Fiji’s first official 5 star hotel, has appointed Lindsey Clark Palmer as the new executive assistant manager. Prior to this role he was executive chef for Hamilton Island, where he was responsible for operating the resort’s 12 restaurants, managing a team of 90 chefs and ensuring the organisation of prominent events for the resort. Outrigger on the Lagoon has also appointed Kushend Kumar as its director of sales. He has previously held a number of different titles in the industry including revenue manager and senior sales manager, is fluent in Japanese and has a depth of knowledge on the Japanese and Korean markets.

Cristina Matisan has been appointed communications executive for the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. She has a marketing background that includes work in public relations and advertising.

Most recently she was communications officer for global holiday company RCI. Destination NSW has announced the appointment of Tanya Bowes as the new general manager of communications. She has 17 years experience in the industry, working for major corporate brands and PR agencies. She has managed the corporate communications for Vodafone and 3mobile and was communications director for PeopleSoft where she led public relations and communications in Japan and Asia-Pacific.

Australia, NE, Melbourne; www.clubsandhotels.com.au 30-May 2 Waste Conference 2013, NC, Coffs Harbour; www. impactenviro.com.au/waste2013 30-May 2 Africa Mining Conference, IC, Perth; www.africamining.com.au May 2013

www.hiahomeshow.com.au 7-8 Natural & Organic Products Europe, IE, London; www.naturalproducts.co.uk 7-9 Organic Food Industry Expo, IE, Beijing; www.gnfexpo.com.cn 9-12 Australian Institute of Training & Development, NC, Melbourne; www.aitd.com.au 10-11 Water Industry Operations, NC, Canberra; www.wioa.org.au 11-13 Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo, NE, Sydney; www.aftermarketexpo.com.au 12-14 International Conference on Herbal Medicine, IC, Melbourne; www.nhaa.org.au 13-16 Urological Society of Australia & New Zealand, IC, Melbourne; www.usanz2013.com 14-15 Salon Melbourne, LE, MCEC, Melbourne; www.salonmelbourne.com.au 14-16 Fine Food WA, LE, PCEC, Perth; www. finefoodwesternaustralia.com.au 16-18 Sustainability Live, IE, Birmingham; www.sustainabilitylive.com 17-19 Incentive Travel & Conventions Meetings China, IE, Shanghai; www.itcmchina.com 17-19 ANZA Workshop, IC 500, BCEC, Brisbane; www.icef.com/workshops 19-20 Fitness & Health Expo, IE, SCEC, Sydney; www.fitnessexpo.com.au 21-29 Auto Shanghai, IE, Shanghai; www.autoshanghai.auto-fairs.com 30-May 1 Clubs & Hotels

1-3 MedTec, IE, London; www.medtecukshow.com 4-8 Aust & NZ College of Anaesthetists Meeting, IC, MCEC, Melbourne; www.anzca2013.com 7-9 Wine World Shanghai, IE 10,000, Shanghai; www.wineworldshanghai.com 7-9 OzWater, NC, PCEC, Perth; www.ozwater.org 7-9 SemiCon Singapore, IE, Singapore; www.semiconsingapore.org 7-9 SIAL China, IE 45,000, Shanghai; www.sialchina.com 7-10 AusTech, NE, MCEC, Melbourne; www.austechexpo.com.au 8-10 Design Build, NE, SCEC, Sydney; www.designbuildexpo.com.au 13 eHealth Week Conference, IC, Dublin; www.wtg.ie 14-17 Alzheimer’s National Conference, NC, Hobart; www.alzheimers2013.com 16-19 Brisbane Truck Show, NE, BCEC, Brisbane; www.brisbanetruckshow.com.au 16-19 Sydney Home Show, LE, Sydney; www.sydneyhomeshow.com.au 18-26 Int. Conf. on Software Engineering, IC, San Francisco; www.2013.icse-conferences.org 20-23 AustMine, IB, PCEC, Perth; www.austmine2013.com 23-25 AusVeg, NB 1000, ACC, Adelaide; www.ausveg.com.au 23-25 Dietitians Assoc. of Aust.

National Conf, NC, Canberra; www.arinex.com.au/dietitians2013 23-26 Melbourne International Coffee Festival, IE, Melbourne; www.internationalcoffeeexpo.com 26-29 APPEA Conference, NC, BCEC, Brisbane; www.appeaconference.com.au 26-29 Royal Australasian College of Physicians Congress, NC, PCEC, Perth; www.racpcongress2013.com.au 26-30 Royal Aust & NZ College of Psychiatrists Congress, IC, SCEC, Sydney; www.ranzcp2013.com 29 The Events Event, IE, Aberdeen, UK; www.theeventsevent.com

CHINA Beijing – +86 10 6588 8155 ext. 613 Mobile +86 1391 077 5351 Song Yang, Publicitas (Beijing) Advertising Co. Ltd, Tower A, Room 808, 8/F, Fulllink Plaza, No.18 Chaoyangmenwai Avenue, Beijing, 100020, P.R. China Fax: +86 10 6588 3110 Email: song.yang@publicitas.com.cn

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Australia’s premier waste event, the Waste Conference 2013, will be held at the Opal Cove Resort, Coffs Harbour, from April 30 - May 2.

KEY: L, Local; N, National; I, International; C, Conference; E, Exhibition; B, Both. Figures are of expected attendance. Contact details are included where available.

March 2013 1-17 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, LE, Melbourne; www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au 3-6 Share Point Technology Conference, NC, San Francisco; www.sptechcon.com 4-5 Road Safety International Conference, IC, SCEC, Sydney; www.roadsafety-4conference.com 4-6 Excellence in Oil and Gas, NB 600, Sydney; www.excellenceoilgas.com 4-7 Women’s Mental Health Congress, IC 800, Peru; www.iawmh2013.com 6-10 International Tourism Board Berlin, IE 172,000, Berlin; www.itb-berlin.de 7-9 National Environmental Law Assoc. Conference, NC, Melbourne; www.nelaconference.com.au 9-10 Holiday and Travel Show, LE, Sydney; www.travelxpo.com.au/ holidayandtravelshow 10-13 Asia Pacific Cycle Congress, IC, Gold Coast; www.cyclecongress.com 12-14 NatStats, NC, BCEC, Brisbane; www.nss.gov.au 12-13 Ad Tech, LC, Sydney; www.adtechaustralia.com 14-16 TELDAP International Conference, IC, Taiwan; www.collab.teldap.tw/teldap2013 14-17 Australian Grand Prix, IE, Melbourne; www.grandprix.com.au 15-17 Franchising Expo, LE, SCEC, Sydney; www.franchisingexpo.com.au 15-17 Brisbane Tinnie & Tackle

Show, LE, Brisbane; www.tinnieandtackle.com.au 16-23 Virtual Reality, IB, Orlando; www.ieeevr.org/2013/ 17-20 Australian Pain Society Annual Meeting, NC, Canberra; www.apsoc.org.au 17-21 PittCon, IB, Philadelphia; www.pittcon.org 20-22 ICF Coaching Conference, NC, Sydney; www. icfacoachingconference2013.com 20-24 International Flower and Garden Show, IE, Melbourne; www.melbflowershow.com.au 21 TradeTech, NC, Sydney; www.wbresearch.com/ tradetechaustralia 23-24 Adventure Travel Expo, LE, Brisbane; www.myadventureexpo.com 23-24 Holiday and Travel Show, LE, Brisbane; www.travelxpo.com. au/holidayandtravelshow 24-29 International Conference on Networking, IC, Portugal; www.iaria.org 25-27 Content Strategy Conference, IC, London; www.confabevents.com 25-29 Game Developers Conference, NC 19,000, San Francisco; www.gdconf.com 27-29 Data Quality Congress, IC, Sydney; www.dqasiapacific.com April 2013 1-3 Hotelex + Design & Deco, IE 100,000, Shangai; www.hddshow.com 4-7 Melbourne Home Show, LE, Melbourne;

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www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, February 2013 47

Sydney’S future iS here.

Australia’s leading business events destination is about to welcome some exciting new developments!

Our new state-of-the art International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) will be on display at AIME 2013. And we have updates on a raft of other venues, activities and suppliers to share with you.

Visit Business Events Sydney at stand 1522 or talk to our team on +61 2 9331 4045 to find out more about hosting your event in the harbour city, now and in the future. businesseventssydney.com.au

An artist’s impression of ICC Sydney