CIM April 2015 Issue by Creative Head Media Pty Ltd

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APR 2015

Gold Coast makes a splash Convention centres forge ahead Adelaide makes new connections

New era Adelaide Convention Centre

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CONTENTS

On the cover The Adelaide Convention Centre has opened the doors to one of the most modern and flexible convention and events spaces in the world with the launch of its new West Building.

34 REGULARS

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MAR 2015

04 Publisher’s note

06 News 08 New Zealand news

Brisbane on a roll New Zealand round-up Sydney’s multicultural advantage

09 International news

CIM0315.indd 1

11 Q&A Megan Crum, Conference Innovators 34 Venue update

10 Cover story Adelaide Convention Centre

36 Talking point Brian Smith, Adelaide

FEATURES 12 Adelaide Adelaide’s connectivity on show

Entertainment Centre

37 Meeting people

16 Central Australia Uluru ticks the bucket list box

38 PCO Association

Island paradise Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey’s Resort 27/03/2015 1:53 pm

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Don’t miss

18 Gold Coast The Gold Coast’s competitive edge 26 Convention centres Convention centres ride a wave

30 IMEX IMEX set to make an impact in Frankfurt 32 Event report

Look out for these topical news-based video stories on our website, www.cimmagazine.com, and in the CIM iPad app, to delve deeper into the issues behind the print stories.

2015 Pola Spring Convention www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 3

PUBLISHER’S WORD

Not enough eggs and only one basket U

nderstandably, China has been a major focus of the Business Events Australia marketing strategy.

We spend a lot of time and money in trade missions, marketing collateral, trade shows and famils to ensure we grab our piece of that lucrative China middle to high income market. And this strategy has proved successful. We have secured many large incentive events (Perfect China and Amway China) to name just two. The economic impact of these events to the cities they visit is enormous and very welcome. But I worry we are not spreading ourselves around a bit more. Current economic reporting on China has growth slowing. The latest figures say growth is at 7 per cent; the days of double digit growth are over. The resource sector is already reeling from the slowdown, but Australian industries across many sectors will see a smaller return on their export strategies. After so much discussion about the potential of the Chinese market, economists are now suggesting that potential might go unrealised. So what do we do, and where do we look next? While we are marketing ourselves strongly in other major territories (including India and North America), are we overlooking emerging territories such as Indonesia, Korea and Taiwan? These territories might not offer the obvious return on investment, but they are very active in the business events industry. I’m curious as to what other people are experiencing, and what they’re hearing from the different markets we’re currently engaged with. Is there a market that looks like the next ‘boom’ market? Are there markets we should be focusing more on? And what about our domestic market, are we overlooking opportunities at home? I’d love to hear opinions, email me at alex@creativehead.com.au.

Published in Australia by Creative Head Media Pty Ltd Suite 202, 80-84 Chandos Street, St Leonards 2065 P.O. Box 189, St Leonards 1590 ACN 147 436 280 ISSN 1039-1029 Website: www.cimmagazine.com

PUBLISHER Alexandra Yeomans GENERAL MANAGER Michelle Cullen MANAGING EDITOR Sheridan Randall JOURNALIST Anastasia Prikhodko DESIGN/PRODUCTION MANAGER Bin Zhou PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR Anne Esteban SALES CO-ORDINATOR Grissel Ritchie ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT Kate Wilcox

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THIS MONTH’S TOP STORY

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Nielsen Media Research July 2004 Readership 57,936 monthly Exclusive official publication for the PCO Association

AMAA, CAB Total Distribution Audit 16,413 September 2014 nce Organise rs fere A on

PCO

Inc. ation oci ss

Investment across both public infrastructure and private venues and accommodation has gone into overdrive on the Gold Coast as it gears up for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Find out more on page 18.

Opinions expressed by the contributors in this magazine are not the opinion of CIM. Letters to the editor are subject to editing.

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INDUSTRY NEWS NEWS BRIEFS Tourism NT hatches new partnership Tourism NT has partnered with Australia’s largest community for women, Business Chicks, to hold a series of events which will raise awareness of the Northern Territory within a key target market responsible for booking business travel. It will also support the NT Convention Bureau, with business development activities, says Tourism NT’s Suzanne Morgan.

Visitor numbers up for AIME 2015 Attendance figures for this year’s Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) were up 5 per cent from 2014, according to the show’s 2015 CAB audited attendance figures. Over the two day show, 4776 attendees participated, while exhibitors from 37 countries were showcased across the newly redesigned show floor.

Sun shines for ICC Sydney ICC Sydney will debut a community-funded solar energy project, allowing the public to buy shares in a new social venture that will own the building’s solar panels. “The smart design of ICC Sydney delivers a range of environmentally and socially sustainable solutions,” said ICC Sydney chief executive, Geoff Donaghy.

Sunshine Coast hosts South East Asian buyers Business Events Sunshine Coast (BESC) recently welcomed its first group of South East Asian conference organisers, partnering with Business Events Australia to host the famil group, which hailed from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Indonesia is an emerging market, and is considered to have great future potential according to BESC executive, Tiffany Beal.

Canberra releases planners guide Canberra Convention Bureau (CCB) has recently released its 2015 Canberra Meeting Planner’s Guide. According to CCB chief executive Robyn Hendry the city has flourished in recent years with “the evolving entertainment districts of New Acton, Kingston, and Braddon” and frequent festivals and sporting events.

Hobart to get business events push Business Events Tasmania (BET) will continue to work with the City of Hobart to develop Hobart as a business events destination, following the signing last month of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening the already successful relationship between the bureau and the City.

is $112 million and with a large percentage of business events being held in the south of the state, this is delivering real benefit to Hobart and the surrounding areas.”

The bureau is looking forward to working with council to maximise the benefits that business events bring to Hobart, particularly in the quieter shoulder and winter periods, according to Malcom Wells, chairman of Business Events Tasmania (BET)

“We know that conferences and other business events have a significant economic benefit for the City,” she said. “When a conference is in town, everyone benefits. Taxis are full, restaurants are full and retailers do a roaring trade, so it’s not just the conference venue and business events suppliers that benefit, but directly and indirectly the whole community.

“The purpose of this MoU is to continue to build on the formal partnership between our two organisations, to share information and to identify business sectors that link to areas of growth in Hobart and that have conferencing potential in the city,” he said. “Conferences and other business events attract the highest yielding spender in the visitor economy. We know that the total direct economic annual return to Tasmania

The Lord Mayor of Hobart, Sue Hickey, confirmed that the City and BET have common interests in promoting Hobart as an attractive business events destination.

“Business events also bring associated social, educational and economic trade benefits and have been an important part of the City for many years. This is why the Council is very keen to work with and support the peak organisation seeking to secure this business.”

Industry supports NSW regional Industry bodies have welcomed the NSW Government’s pre-election commitment to spend $6 million implementing a regional conference strategy for the state. The Government has promised to develop a Regional Conference Strategy in consultation with the tourism and hospitality industry, expected to be finalised by next month. Under the Strategy a new business unit will be formed with the aim of attracting more business events to regional centres across NSW. Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA)

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acting chief executive, Carol Giuseppi, said the announcement was a very positive step for tourism operators in regional NSW. “The NSW Government has demonstrated clearly that it is both a friend of tourism and understands the specific issues that are affecting regional destinations,” she said. “While many towns are doing well on weekends, the decline in business travel – and particularly meetings – over the past three or four years has affected many regional towns mid-week, and the aim of the Regional Conference Strategy is to

Club Melbourne Ambassadors recognised Club Melbourne Ambassadors have been recognised for securing 11 international conferences in 2014, worth an estimated $24 million for Victoria, at the program’s annual awards ceremony, held at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) last month. Officiating at his first Club Melbourne event as the new Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events, John Eren presented the Ambassadors with awards for their achievements. “Club Melbourne has a fine reputation for promoting Melbourne to the global professional community and I congratulate the Ambassadors for the great contribution they make bringing conferences to Victoria,” he said. MCEC chief executive Peter King added his thanks, saying: “we are incredibly proud

of our Ambassadors who volunteer their time and expertise, working with our team and partners to lead and deliver major international conferences”. “This year our world-leading Club Melbourne Ambassador Program celebrates 10 years – a huge milestone for an initiative that has secured 95 international conferences and contributed more than $580 million to the state,” King said. “Melbourne has led the growth of the business events industry globally for the last decade and with the world investing in this sector in a big way, business is becoming incredibly competitive globally. “Club Melbourne is such a valuable asset to Victoria and we’ll continue to invest in the program to secure more conferences for the city in collaboration with our ‘Team Melbourne’ partners.” The 11 international conferences secured by Ambassadors over the past year include the Asia Pacific Confederation of Chemical Engineering Congress; the Agricultural Bioscience International Conference; and the ACM International Conference on Information and Knowledge Management.

conferencing push encourage companies and organisations to hold their meetings and events in regional NSW. “Regional centres are well-serviced by airports and in many areas have outstanding facilities – such as the new Hunter Valley Conference & Events Centre – and we believe that with greater promotion and support that these destinations can attract many more major conferences. “There is a need to attract more overnight visitors to regional NSW. Conferences are an excellent way of achieving that, and can

have a significant multiplier effect for the wider regional economy.” Dean Gorddard, executive manager of the Tourism Industry division of the NSW Business Chamber, has also indicated his organisation’s support for the move. “If NSW is going to double overnight visitor expenditure by 2020, we need to invest in tourism infrastructure that improves access, conference opportunities and stimulates mid-week visits to regional areas,” he said.

BridgeClimb hits new heights Sydney’s BridgeClimb has launched three new Corporate Packages, adding to its suite of products tailored to the corporate market. Features of the packages include VIP welcome receptions, corporate branding options and pre and post-climb catering. “Our new corporate packages have been created to enhance the BridgeClimb experience,” said BridgeClimb CEO Todd Coates. “They build on 16 years of success in facilitating corporate activities, specifically motivating, rewarding and uniting teams. “BridgeClimb is privileged to operate on an international icon and proud to host unique events that add tremendous value for corporate team building and incentive events. Our approach is agile and flexible to meet the objectives of any client, whether that be for Eastern, Western or corporate markets, for small private bookings, large incentive groups or for local and international tourists.” In recent years, BridgeClimb has hosted many special events and created several climb products connected to Sydney’s globally renowned festivals, such as Vivid Sydney, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and Chinese New Year. BridgeClimb also offers tailored climb experiences for large groups, ranging from 10 to 10,000 or more, with the ability to operate under a super capacity model that allows for more frequent departures and increased group sizes. Watch the video in the CIM iPad app.

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 7

NZ NEWS

New planners guide launched Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) has released its latest planners guide. The 2015 New Zealand Event Planners’ Guide features a four page section for every region of New Zealand, plus a new section devoted to luxury products, venues and services.

Christchurch woos potential convenors Christchurch and Canterbury Convention Bureau (CCCB), along with Tourism New Zealand (TNZ), recently held an event to brief potential conference convenors on the funding and support available to help them host international conferences in the city. Among the guests were leaders from the region’s top academic institutions and medical research fields, including guest speaker Dr Xianghu Xiong (pictured left), organising chairman for the Scientific Meeting of the Asia Oceania Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, which will be held in Christchurch in November 2018. The bureau has partnered with TNZ’s Business Events team to support five bid submissions over the last 18 months; there are another six bid opportunities in the works. CCCB manager Caroline Blanchfield says the strategy is really starting to pay off. “Looking to the future and targeting sectors where our region excels and has enthusiastic conference champions has helped the city succeed in winning these bids,” she said.

CINZ chief executive Sue Sullivan says the new guide is the “who’s who” and the “what’s what” for New Zealand business events. “Everything you ever needed to know is in

Over the past couple of months we have held seminars and events at several of New Zealand's major universities promoting the Conference Assistance Programme and un-tapped potential opportunities to bring international conferences to the country. Working to promote areas where New Zealand has particular leadership and expertise to the rest of the world provides a great incentive to bring conferences to the country and is a core

A highlight of the new guide is a venue size index, with capacity listings for every venue in the country, and a supplier index, sorted by types of service. A flipbook version of the guide is also available on the CINZ website, www.conventionsnz.co.nz.

Mentor programme to build on success Following on from the success of its inaugural Mentorship Programme, Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) is now calling for more potential mentors and mentees. The 2015 Mentorship Programme will be launched in June at the Meetings expo (pictured) in Auckland.

“It is helping PCOs reach their full potential while at the same time building valuable relationships with one another.” The programme is open to all CINZ members and will run over a seven-month period starting at Meetings 2015 in June, with a formal mid-point session during September in Auckland.

Leading New Zealand PCOs Megan Crum, Sally Bary and Jan Tonkin were instrumental in developing the programme and are now joined on the Mentorship Committee by CINZ chief executive Sue Sullivan. “What we want to do is grow the skills of our PCOs and strengthen the networks within our industry so that everyone is at the top of their game,” said Sullivan.

TNZ targets universities Tourism New Zealand's latest activity has been very successful in targeting local universities to uncover potential conference opportunities for New Zealand.

here, at your fingertips,” she said. “It will be an invaluable resource for event organisers wanting to plan an event in New Zealand.”

element of our business events strategy. The sessions were a great opportunity to meet leaders in their field who could potentially bid for an international conference and we are already seeing great leads following the sessions. Our experience shows that academics, research teams and university staff will generally elect to host a conference in the city they reside in. So there is great value in assisting these individuals to try and bring those events to New Zealand. A great example of this is a recent conference win for Dunedin, which will

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see the Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference hosted by the University of Otago's Centre for Science and Communication. This bid was championed by the University of Otago's Stuart Professor of Science Communication, Lloyd Spencer Davis, with the support of Tourism New Zealand, Dunedin Marketing – Enterprise Dunedin and the Conference Assistance Programme. Tourism New Zealand has also launched further activities such as a national business events awards night which will work to find more of these conference champions that will provide us with the edge to compete for a bigger share of the international conference market. Bjoern Spreitzer is international business events manager at Tourism New Zealand.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Dubai to host IAPCO Annual Meeting in 2017 Dubai has won the bid to host the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) Annual Meeting & General Assembly in 2017, expected to attract around 100 of the world’s most influential conference organisers from 40 countries. The winning bid was spearheaded by Dubai Business Events, in partnership with local IAPCO members Meeting Minds and

MCI Dubai. “Part of our strategy to increase the number of visitors and business events hosted in Dubai every year centres on engaging with meeting planners and industry bodies from around the world to raise awareness about Dubai as a leading destination for international business events,” said Steen Jakobsen, director of Dubai Business Events.

Study reveals future of Chinese travel market a comprehensive view of Chinese travel and shows that overseas trips will become possible for tens of millions of new Chinese households within the next 10 years,” said Adam Sacks, president of Oxford Economics. “History shows that destinations which improve access for Chinese travellers, experience a significant growth premium in the number of arrivals. This represents a clear opportunity for both countries and international cities to benefit from the huge future increases in Chinese outbound travel.” InterContinental Hotels Group has partnered with Oxford Economics to publish one of the most comprehensive studies into the Chinese travel market ever undertaken. The report reveals the scale of the opportunity for global travel destinations to benefit from shifting patterns in Chinese travel, with London, New York, Los Angeles, Sydney and Tokyo expected to benefit most. The Future of Chinese Travel Report shows that favourable economic and demographic trends shaping the Chinese travel market are set to fuel huge increases in demand for international travel over the next decade. It also reveals the opportunities this growth will present, as Chinese traveller preferences evolve towards long-haul, leisure-driven travel. The study reports that increases in leisure and retail spend will contribute to significant increases in the value of Chinese travellers to local economies. “The Future of Chinese Travel Report provides

Richard Solomons, chief executive of IHG, said the report was a ground-breaking piece of research. “The country’s growing importance in the global travel market cannot be underestimated,” he said. Key findings of the report include: • 88 million Chinese households will be able to travel overseas by 2023. • In the next decade, over 60 million Chinese households will cross the annual income threshold of $35,000, at which point international travel becomes more affordable.

“By hosting the members of IAPCO, we are excited to be able to show what the city has to offer to a group of people who are highly influential in determining where major international meetings and association congresses take place every year.”

Tokyo targets event planners Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau (TCVB) has released its first ever Tokyo Corporate Meetings & Incentive Travel Booklet. Themed around the idea of “Tokyo, where success is measured by quality,” the booklet introduces accessible ancient traditions that are alive and well in Tokyo today, from Noh drama workshops and visits to a Sumo stable to culinary experiences such as sushi-making and sake tasting, as well as a diverse range of nature-based experiences and teambuilding activities. Ideas for expanding delegates' horizons in the world’s most modern metropolis includes sampling a robot restaurant and visiting the hightech Panasonic Center. The booklet also features a range of sample itineraries and themed options, as well as details of the TCVB’s special offers for corporate events. “Tokyo is a very unique and exciting business events destination, and we definitely see an increasing interest from the surrounding market since we started the special offers for corporate events,” said Hiro Fujimura, director of sales for the TCVB business events team.

• China will overtake the US, UK and Germany to become the largest source market internationally for long-haul travellers by 2020. • Cities are the primary destinations for Chinese outbound travellers, with over 85 per cent heading for major cities around the world. www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 9

COVER STORY

Watch the video in the CIM iPad app. The Adelaide Convention Centre’s new West Building is the beginning of a new chapter for the Centre, marking the first stage in a two stage expansion.

A movable automated plenary facility, also the largest of its kind in Australia, can seat up to 1000 and can be located in various locations within the Halls. Concerts for up to 3500 can also be hosted in the space.

Opened in March by South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill, the West Building launched with a series of business, arts and community events designed to showcase the building’s flexibility and versatility. Eighteen thousand people streamed through the doors of the new building over four days to attend free and ticketed events.

“The expansion’s flexibility gives the Centre’s clients many more options when it comes to planning conferences and events,” says Gilbert.

New era The Adelaide Convention Centre has officially opened the doors to one of the most modern, flexible and technologically advanced convention and events spaces in the world with the launch of its new West Building.

Adelaide Convention Centre chief executive Alec Gilbert said he was delighted with the response from the local community. “The diverse range of events across the four days also gave conference and event organisers a chance to see the new West Building’s unique features and versatility in action,” he says. The Panorama Ballroom is the jewel in the crown of the new West Building. With sweeping views across the River Torrens and beyond, the Panorama Ballroom caters up to 600 for a gala dinner and 1000 for a meeting or conference, with operable walls providing the flexibility for the room to be subdivided into three smaller meeting spaces. New Halls (LMNO) provide a multi-functional space that can be sub-divided into six different configurations and Australia’s largest retractable lighting grids allow ceiling heights to be adjusted and shaped for each event.

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The West Building also has its own dedicated entrance with taxi and coach drop off points so delegates can enjoy their own arrivals and registration area without the need to cross events held in other parts of the Centre. Other key features of the West Building include the Riverbank Rooms which provide four additional meeting rooms which can be subdivided or opened up into one large meeting room. The expansive Riverbank foyer opens up directly onto the Riverbank Promenade. Additional space has also been created with the City Rooms – a series of interconnecting meeting rooms with its own foyer space, registration areas and set-backs, and an outdoor terrace overlooking North Terrace and the city. Gilbert says the multi-million dollar expansion when fully completed will enable the Centre to attract both a greater number and bigger conferences and events to Adelaide. “With three unique buildings that integrate seamlessly, we’ll be able to open up the entire Centre for a large international conference or offer self-contained conferences within individual buildings,” he says.

Q&A

Coming of age Event organiser Megan Crum has been a part of the New Zealand business events industry for two decades with both Conference Innovators and her new venture The December Group. She spoke with CIM about the changes within the industry and the importance of nurturing the next generation of event organisers.

Q: How did you become involved in the events industry?

flowed through to the business events sector? A: For CI in particular, the professional association market we specialise in is reasonably resilient to the overall ups and downs of the economy.

A: Originally from Australia I obtained a business degree, majoring in hospitality management. I remember thinking what a cool job a professional conference orgnaniser had. A perfect mix of business and hospitality.

There was a huge impact from the Christchurch earthquakes (Christchurch was HQ for CI – and our central city office did come down). Fortunately we had systems in place and an incredible commitment from our team, unreserved support from all our suppliers and understanding from our loyal clients. Issues were resolved quickly.

Fast forward a few years and I moved to New Zealand where I was working in hotels and what was then The Christchurch Convention Centre. In 1995 I decided to take the plunge and to establish my own conference organising business, Conference Innovators (CI), in response to a gap that I saw in the New Zealand market.

Q: How did you become involved in the CINZ mentorship programme?

Q: Tell us about Conference Innovators? A: What began as a one-woman operation in 1995 has grown to be one of New Zealand’s leading professional conference organising company, with 20 staff based in offices in Auckland and Christchurch managing in excess of 70 conferences and major events throughout NZ and Australia. Q: What changes have you seen in the industry over your career? A: As we deal mostly with professional associations, I have noticed a big change in the way those clients increasingly recognise the advantages of outsourcing conference management rather than managing events in house. There is also a growing and intense interest among the professions in continuing education. This trend has resulted in significant growth for our core business. Q: How has New Zealand matured as a business events destination? A: Most noticeably hospitality is now a truly 24 hour industry with 6pm closing time a distant memory. There is a definite move to less flamboyant social events, with the focus on education. Outcome driven speakers and proven benefits for conference participants is required. Developing partnerships and long term business strategies between professional associations and supporting companies and sponsors is now the norm and not the exception. New Zealand’s points of difference are now being showcased positively and consistently in international marketing campaigns. Our ability to deliver successful events on the world stage is also now well recognised, with the development implementation and ongoing funding of the CAP and Major Event Fund an example of the greater recognition of the huge economic return of our industry. Q: The NZ economy is going from strength to strength – has that

A: My work with the NZ Dental Association exposed me to their national successful mentorship programme and the benefits of this to their members. I brought the idea of implementing a similar programme to a PCO meeting two years ago. The idea was well received and with financial and administrative support from CINZ (Board and staff) and a small dedicated sub-committee it was reasonably easy to implement. Q: How important is it for the industry to actively encourage its younger demographic? A: Very! I feel there is a lack of professional development in the industry that highlights positive career development. The mentorship programme fills a gap and connects colleagues with a range of experience to the younger or less experienced in the industry and shows them a range of future opportunities. Creating and demonstrating opportunity will assist in retaining and developing members of our industry. Conference management can be a stressful, intense and sometimes lonely business. Connection through mentorship provides a valuable and rare opportunity for conversation and contact with industry professionals. The younger generation is highly geared to electronic communication so retaining a reason for “face to face” time encourages skills that are required in this profession and offers collegiality, which in the end helps us to stay in touch and learn from each other. Q: How would you like to see the industry evolve? A: PCOs are primarily self-focused small businesses. It is time to add another layer of contribution to the industry as a whole and encourage an ethos of giving to the wider profession. The industry is of a size that this can happen and perhaps the mentorship programme is the start of this.

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 11

ADELAIDE

The Destination SA gala dinner at the Adelaide Oval.

Watch the video in the CIM iPad app.

Well connected This year’s Destination SA saw a record number of hosted buyers keen to get the lowdown on one of the hottest cities in Australia right now, writes Sheridan Randall. “Destination South Australia (Destination SA) is our biggest one yet, with the event going on for 11 years, and we are absolutely delighted to say we have the most hosted buyers we have ever achieved,” said Damien Kitto, Adelaide Convention Bureau’s chief executive, speaking at the one-day showcase of South Australia’s best venues and suppliers held in late March. “There are some amazing things happening in Adelaide and South Australia.” The huge investment in infrastructure in Adelaide’s

Riverbank Precinct is well underway, with the Adelaide Convention Centre’s new West Building opening (see cover story), the redevelopment of the Adelaide Oval complete, the River Torrens footbridge already seeing heavy foot traffic and the announcement by South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill of a $610 million plan for the Festival Plaza redevelopment which includes a $90 million facelift for the Adelaide Festival Centre. In addition, there is the new South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI),

the $2.1 billion being invested in the construction of the state-of-the-art Royal Adelaide Hospital, the $350 million casino redevelopment including a new 6-star hotel and a $30 million upgrade of Rundle Mall. This massive investment across a stable of sectors including conference venues, research centres, sporting stadiums and entertainment is great news for those looking to bring events to Adelaide. “I think it is fair to say that when the total redevelopment is completed, if not already, it makes the Riverbank the best

12 Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 www.cimmagazine.com

connected entertainment and business precinct in Australia,” said Kitto. “The connectivity, the convenience and the accessibility is amazing. “A huge opportunity for the convention bureau and industry is the bio-medical hub, one of the biggest in the southern hemisphere if not the biggest. The program, the opportunity and the content that can come from that is an amazing opportunity not only for association conferences, but also the pharmaceutical sector, particularly the corporate sector.” The Adelaide Convention

Festivals for added ‘wow’ factor The South Australian Living Artists Festival (SALA) August 1-31, 2015 Santos Tour Down Under January 17, 2016 (to be confirmed) Adelaide Fringe Festival February 12 to March 13, 2016 Adelaide Festival February 26 to March 14, 2016 Clipsal 500 February 25-28 or March 3-6, 2016 WOMADelaide March 11-14, 2016

Centre hosted the Welcome Reception in the new West Building’s Panorama Ballroom, with Leon Bignell, Minister for Tourism, Recreation and Sport, welcoming news that Adelaide will host the 2017 World Hapkido Federation

Championships and Seminar, attracting around 2500 people of which 2000 will be international competitors and delegates. “If you haven’t been here for a while of you’ve never been here I hope you like what we’ve done with the place,” he said.

“It’s all part of creating a vibrant Adelaide. What we hear from people coming to South Australia and Adelaide over the past year or two is that it is the perfect city. You can come in here and do business all day and then when you step out you are

immediately somewhere you want to be, somewhere you can have fun, somewhere you can see a sporting event, somewhere that feels like home.” This sentiment was backed up by Martin Hamilton-Smith, Minister for Investment and Trade, who

THE PERFECT COMPLEMENT. The New York Times rated it as one of the places to visit in 2015 and we certainly know why. With world-class sporting facilities, iconic festivals and the exciting Convention Centre refurbishment, your Adelaide experience is sure to be truly memorable. Located in the heart of it just a short walk from the Convention Centre, boasting a range of dynamic meeting and event spaces, unique food and beverage offerings and outstanding service, InterContinental Adelaide offers the perfect complement to your every meeting and event need.

Do you live an InterContinental life? For more information or to experience our complimentary familiarisation service call 08 8238 2339, or visit icadelaide.com.au

In over 170 locations across the globe including ADELAIDE•FIJI•NEW YORK•PARIS

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 13

spoke at Destination SA’s finale held at the newly redeveloped Adelaide Oval, which showcased its stunning food and beverage offering to the guests. “It’s good to see this consensus forming that Adelaide is a really special place no only to live but to visit and hold your convention or event,” he said.

Eat

Jamie’s Italian – the most luxurious of UK chef Jamie Oliver’s Aussie outposts and the first for South Australia.

“If you really want to cut through to the real Australia where the outback meets the sea and where the beaches are clean and beautiful, where there is a vibrant city on a river with all of the flora, the fauna, the food and the wine, all of the things that you want to make your convention or event memorable, then Adelaide is the place for that to happen.”

Sean’s Kitchen – expat British chef Sean Connolly comes to Adelaide via Auckland to set up this popular eaterie tucked into the casino building, just a hop and skip from the new footbridge and Riverbank Precinct.

Food and wine are a standout element across many of the venues in Adelaide, with Adelaide Entertainment Centre also impressing with its culinary chops courtesy of head executive chef Brian Smith (see page 36). The InterContinental Adelaide’s renowned Japanese restaurant Shiki continues to impress with its teppanyaki cuisine, and is so close to the Adelaide Convention Centre delegates could fit a bite in between plenary sessions.

Botanic Gardens Restaurant – this award-winning restaurant (pictured) offers the best of Modern Australia cuisine with a focus on the State’s best produce. A culinary oasis only Adelaide Zoo – one of a stone’s throw two zoos in the State, from the CBD. the centrally located zoo is home to the southern hemisphere’s only two giant pandas (pictured). Hire out the whole zoo or have the pandas to yourself. Either way delegates will go wild for the event.

“The State Government is right behind the Adelaide Convention Bureau, right behind everything that is going on with tourism and right behind you and your plans to come here and have fun,” added Hamilton-Smith.

Hill of Grace – part of the redeveloped Adelaide Oval, this fine-dining restaurant partners with the Barossa Valley’s Henschke family, so expect a world-class wine list.

National Wine Centre of Australia – The largest wine cellar in the southern hemisphere can host up to 500 cocktail-style in its Exhibition Hall. For groups that don’t have time to visit the nearby wine regions, the Centre’s Enomatic machine is nothing to be sniffed at with 120 top drops on offer. Central Market – an Adelaide institution, the CBD market features the best local produce available, with Central Market Tours giving groups the story behind some of the stall holders.

Sheridan Randall was hosted by the Adelaide Convention Bureau.

Adelaide’s Best Functions 14 Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 www.cimmagazine.com

Phone: 08 8208 2222 www.theaec.net

Stay Mayfair Hotel – New boutique hotel (pictured) in the heart of the CBD in the heritage-listed Colonial Mutual Life building. Guests on the executive floors have access to the Hennessy Lounge and the secluded rooftop Champagne Terrace. A number of meetings spaces are available catering up to 36 classroom-style in the largest. The Watson – Overlooking the Adelaide Hills, the fifth in the series of Art Hotels features the work of Indigenous artist Tommy Yannima Pikarli Watson and offers self-contained suites and an onsite restaurant. Ibis Adelaide – less than 12 months old the hotel offers 311 accommodation rooms in the CBD. The hotel’s restaurant and bar share the floor with conference facilities that cater up to 98 theatre-style. The Oaks Embassy – Located directly opposite the Adelaide Convention Centre, the hotel has new boardroom-style meetings space and Coffee Club café on the ground floor. Quest King William South – New 105 studio, one and two bedroom apartments with kitchen, laundry facilities, and separate living/dining area. The property also features an onsite reception, gymnasium, BBQ area and meeting room.

How Pre-and post touring options have been made easier for time poor delegates with the launch of the Adelaide Convention Bureau’s new award winning Pre & Post Touring Portal which allows a one click link to review, view and book a host of options across Adelaide and South Australia.

NOW IS THE TIME

FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT

Take advantage of a new $3b Riverbank Precinct ... expanded Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide Oval, world leading Biomedical research hub and much more. www.adelaideconvention.com.au

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 15

CENTRAL AUSTRALIA

Ayers Rock Resort upgrades apartments Ayers Rock Resort has elevated its self-contained accommodation, the Emu Walk Apartments, to a new level of sophistication in line with the refurbishment of the 5-star Sails in the Desert hotel, offering another accommodation option for groups meeting at the Uluru Meeting Place.

An extra incentive Events held at Uluru have “bucket list” appeal for many delegates as it is, but tapping into one of the Red Centre’s one-off major events can make them even more attractive, writes Ylla Watkins. The Red Centre of the Northern Territory is not only home to Australia’s most recognisable icon, Uluru, but it is also the venue for a range of unusual one-off events which provide added incentive for events organisers to consider Uluru for their next event. Headlining Uluru’s 2015 events calendar is this month’s Tjungu Festival, which celebrates the 50,000 year old culture of the region’s traditional owners, the Anangu people. Running from April 23-26, the festival delivers a snapshot of Australian Indigenous culture, with highlights including Indigenous model Samantha Harris leading the Tjungu Fashion Parade, chef Mark Olive presenting the “Tastes of Tjungu” dining experience under the stars, and performances from the high-octane Mutitjulu Ninja Circus. In late May, Voyages Ayers Rock Resort along with the Uluru Camel Racing Club, will host the Uluru Camel Cup, which incorporates a range of one-off festivities including the pre-event Camel Cup Calcutta and the post-races “Frock Up & Rock Up Gala Ball”, held under the stars. Other events with potential for inclusion in a conference, incentive programme or as pre- or post- add-ons include the Australian Outback Marathon in July; the Uluru Astronomy Weekend in August, headlined by popular science boffin “Dr Karl” Kruszelnicki; and the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) Uluru Festival in late October, which will see the ACO perform three intimate concert’s the course of the weekend at Uluru Meeting Place, Voyages Ayers Rock Resort’s conference and function venue, complemented by two exclusive dinners and a long lunch featuring tastes of the outback. “The inclusion of one of these experiences in a conference or incentive social programme would definitely provide added ‘wow factor’,” said

All 63 apartments have undergone a total internal refurbishment, with 40 one-bedroom and 23 twobedroom apartments all now offering fully-equipped kitchens, laundry with washer/dryer and a separate dining and living area ideal for larger groups. The renovation showcases indigenous design elements throughout the kitchen, living and bedroom areas, with reproductions of artwork by regional Indigenous artists Japanangka or Raymond Walters taking pride of place overlooking the open dining area.

Suzanne Morgan, executive director business and events with the NT Convention Bureau. “[There’s] no need for organisers to create something extra special at significant cost – participation by a group at one of these spectacular events would fit the bill beautifully and provide an experience on a scale unlikely to be possible within usual budget constraints. “Alternatively, these events could be considered as an ideal pre or post extension and would enable delegates at leisure to broaden their Territory experience, ranging from a day at the outback races through to seeing fantastic cultural performances. “Feedback from organisers tells us that that the chance to see and experience Uluru can play a significant role in increasing delegate or participant attendance. We believe that the opportunity to see, experience or even participate in some of these extraordinary Uluru events would serve to further enhance event outcomes and delegate satisfaction.” Indigenous engagement is also an integral part of any visit to Uluru, be it for a conference or leisure, according to Morgan. “It’s not just about viewing Australia’s most recognisable icon but about taking advantage of the opportunity for engagement and learnings from Aboriginal people,” she said. “There are a multitude of benefits associated with including Indigenous experiences in a conference or an incentive event. Key amongst them are the opportunities to really connect with the local community, develop take-away learnings and also leave a lasting legacy by supporting cultural activities and Indigenous employment.”

16 Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 www.cimmagazine.com

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GOLD COAST

Right: Artist’s impression of the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct. Below: Aerial view of Sheraton Mirage Resort & Spa.

Watch the video in the CIM iPad app.

Making a splash Investment across both public infrastructure and private venues and accommodation has gone into overdrive on the Gold Coast as it gears up for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, writes Sheridan Randall. Gold Coast venues have collectively spent more than $180 million on the development of their conference and event facilities during the past 12 months “and there is more planned”, according to Anna Case, director Business Events, Gold Coast Tourism Corporation, “Others are at the national forefront of user technology,” she adds. “It’s a very exciting time.”

This follows a massive investment in infrastructure, which is ongoing, as part of the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games in 2018, including the Light Rail, which has expanded accommodation options for organisers using the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) to include hotels in Surfers Paradise. “The large-scale investment

showcases the confidence of the city itself,” says Case. “To attract the best conferences and events on a national and international scale the Gold Coast understands it needs to provide the best infrastructure, entertainment and, of course, service. “With world-class infrastructure projects recently completed and the forward-thinking commitment of the venue

18 Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 www.cimmagazine.com

providers, the Gold Coast is certainly in a position to do this.” The RACV Royal Pines recently completed the refurbishment of its conference and events facilities, resulting in a record breaking year in number of events booked, according to RACV Queensland Resort general manager, John Morris. "Twelve months on, the

Big cats and acrobats Dreamworld pulled out all stops for its largest ever Events Showcase, treating more than 100 corporate clients to a unique progressive dinner through the theme park’s multitude of spaces. The evening began on Tiger Island, where guests were entertained by the playful antics of the tiger while sipping on pre dinner drinks, before they were invited to move on to Kung Fu Panda: Land of Awesomeness, where they were greeted by stilt walkers and the star of Kung Fu Panda himself, Po. From there guests were ushered into the heart of Dreamworld’s Main Street for dinner, complete with aerial acrobats performing above their heads. The evening was capped off with the Illuminate Laser Light Show, the only one of its kind in Queensland. Above and far right: Dreamworld's Main Street.

National sales manager for Dreamworld events, Katie Tinetti, said the showcase was a great way for corporate clients to experience what an event could be like at Dreamworld. “We wanted our clients to see, hear, feel and taste just how fantastic their event could be,” she said. “We pride ourselves on creating memorable and unique events coupled with a high standard of service. For a client to experience first-hand what we offer, is the best way we can convey what we can do.” Dreamworld Events plans to host another Showcase late in 2015.

refurbishment has seen a solid increase in our conference and events business and improvements in both forward bookings and quote conversion,” he says. “Quite simply, the new

centre offers our clients a state of the art facility with unprecedented convenience and technology, paired with RACV's commitment to service standards. Our new partnership with audio visual company

AVPartners has strengthened the benefits and our product offering for our clients.” Jupiters Hotel & Casino is also preparing to reap the rewards of its $345 million transformation, with two new

restaurants, a new resort pool and bar experience and the refurbishment of the building façade completed late last year. New features include VIP bungalows with private spas and decks, private cabanas

Gold Coast BUSINESS EVENTS

NOTHING LIKE YOU EXPECT E X A C T LY W H AT Y O U ’ R E L O O K I N G F O R

The Gold Coast is famous for fun, but it’s also a world-class meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition destination. Inspiring, energetic and exciting, the Gold Coast is the perfect destination for any business event, from intimate meetings to spectacular gala events. GOLDCOASTBUSINESSEVENTS.COM

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 19

Infrastructure investment

Above: Jupiters new poolside cabanas.

Cash is being splashed across much of the Gold Coast’s public infrastructure in preparation for the Commonwealth Games taking place in April 2018. The first stage of the light rail project is now well established, with locals and visitors taking to the new public transport option in droves. Expected to be ready in time for the Commonwealth Games, the next stage of the Gold Coast’s $600 million light rail project will connect the recently completed service, which runs between Southport and Broadbeach, passing the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, with the main Brisbane to Gold Coast rail line. Another major infrastructure project expected to be ready ahead of the Games is Stage 1 of the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct, which the City of Gold Coast says is set to “form the beating heart of arts and culture on the Gold Coast”. In February, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate unveiled the initial concept for Stage 1, which includes a versatile performance and activity space – The Splash. “We have great artists, the climate and the best precinct location with views to Surfers Paradise, and, by 2018, we’ll have a striking outdoor stage with a jam packed civic and cultural program,” Tate said. The amphitheatre concept has been designed “to ensure it will be well-used year-round with events, entertainment, concerts and cinema”. “The stage will need to cater for everything from niche events like fashion parades and unplugged performances, to drawcard concerts attracting several thousand people,” he added. “And it must provide concert-goers with one of the world’s most breathtaking amphitheatre backdrops. “ Estimated to cost $37 million over three years, work on Stage 1 is set to start in early 2016, with plans also to include a Riverside Hub, which will accommodate a Riverside Gallery for visual arts exhibitions, along with creative partnership spaces, civic reception space, a potential creative tenancy and café, as well as outdoor “Artscape” works such as enhancements to Evandale Lake.

overlooking the pool, and a poolside bar serving meals, snacks and drinks and VIP lounging area. This year will also see the refurbishment of the existing 592-room hotel begin, with six concept rooms currently under review. Construction works are also expected to begin mid-year on the new luxury 17-storey 6-star hotel tower at the front of the property, which will comprise of luxury hotel suites, signature bars and restaurants, private gaming rooms, and a high-end exclusive lounge bar overlooking the infinity edge pool with skyline and ocean views.

The project will also include the construction of a new connection between Broadbeach Island and the Gold Coast Highway which will incorporate pedestrian walkways, as well as a new porte cochère and

The Sheraton Mirage Resort & Spa is continuing to look its best following a major refurbishment several years ago, with the Oasis Pool and surrounds the latest area to be given a makeover with numerous sandstone

“The large-scale investment showcases the confidence of the city itself.” guest arrival area. New restaurants and bars are also planned to accompany the two recent culinary newcomers Kiyomi and Cucina Vivo.

terrace dining areas added to the expansive lawns. The hotel is also looking at a new 480sqm ballroom delivery area which is capable of accommodating

20 Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 www.cimmagazine.com

semi-trailer access and even allows for trucks to be displayed in the ballroom. Mercure Gold Coast Resort also completed a multi-million dollar refurbishment late 2014, which marks the first major renovation at the property since it opened its doors almost 17 years ago. The redesign extends to major central facilities, accommodation rooms, and soft furnishings and AV in the conference space, the Master Ballroom. Sea World Resort’s new Conference Centre is on track to open in June with the capacity to host up to 1000 delegates in

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Out and about Tangalooma Island Resort on Moreton Island has been undergoing a 12 month refurbishment programme which is due to be completed mid-year. A new buffet restaurant, coffee shop, Beach Cafe, resort centre, guest services and reception are already in place with a new Club Lounge/Sportsmans Bar and Winter Fireplace entertainment area soon to come online. The new Waterfront Conference Pavilion, which opened last year “has been a huge success with clients”, says Robyne Wilson, the Resort’s business development manager – MICE, adding that business events have seen a steady growth of 17 per cent year on year. Incentive business out of Malaysia, China and Indonesia has also seen significant growth, according to Wilson. Tangalooma, in conjunction with Australian day Tour Company, pick up from all the major Gold Coast hotels to connect with the daily 10am launch service, with a return drop off at 4pm.

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Inland, O'Reilly's Canungra Valley Vineyards (pictured) has recently erected a purpose built marquee, catering for up to 150 seated and 200 guests cocktail style. The venue is nestled amongst 4000 grape vines of Shiraz, Chambourcin, Verdelho and Semillon and is ideal for a corporate dinners, lunches, cocktail functions and product launches. A wooden dance floor, rustic wine barrels and hanging crystal chandeliers add to the atmosphere. The hinterlands are only a 40 minute drive from the Gold Coast.

750sqm of event space, divisible into three sections. “The response we have received thus far from clients has been absolutely phenomenal, and the whole month of August is already booked out,” says Caroline Duveau-Clayton, sales manager – conferences and events, Sea World Resort. Staging Connections has been appointed as the sole in-house audio visual and event services provider for the Sea World Resort Conference Centre, with the AV company also overseeing all existing function spaces at Sea World Resort and the Paradise Room at Sea World Theme Park. The Sea World Resort Conference Centre will be fitted out with fibre internet connection with a dedicated 30mb bandwidth, providing fast internet access for its delegates. The new Conference Centre will also feature a porte cochere with vehicle access, as well as a large veranda that can be open or closed roof, making it ideal for coffee breaks, lunches, trade exhibitions and cocktail receptions.

The new $11.5 million Gold Coast Event Centre, located on the southern lawn at Gold Coast Turf Club, debuted at the beginning of the year on the Jeep Magic Millions Race Day. Minister for Tourism and Major Events Jann Stuckey officially opened the 2500sqm Event Centre, which can cater for more than 1200 in a banquet setting. Gold Coast Turf Club chairman Brett Cook said the completion of the centre was a major milestone for the club, providing not just premium facilities on race days but “also to accelerate its move into the events market”. The ability for the Gold Coast to deliver world-class events was never more evident that at the recent 2015 Pola Spring Convention in February, which saw 1500 delegates from Japan celebrate with a oneday extravaganza at GCCEC before enjoying some leisure time exploring the region with hand-feeding wild bottlenose dolphins at Tangalooma Island Resort, sand tobogganing and quad biking, a tour of Tamborine Mountain Glow

22 Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 www.cimmagazine.com

Worm Caves in the hinterland, and a visit to Byron Bay all on itinerary (see more about the event on pages 24-25). The client, Pola Skincare and Cosmetics, selected the Gold Coast over a number of rivals including Anaheim, Las Vegas, Sydney, Madrid and Rome, due to its combination of meetings facilities, lifestyle, climate and access to natural beauty, according to Case. “The client wanted a location that had great natural attractions, like the beach, unique wildlife and rainforest and fabulous shopping options,” she says. “This style of event clearly demonstrates the amazing capabilities and can do attitude of our local suppliers within the destination. The fact that we made this all so seamless and were able to deliver exactly what the client envisioned for the 85th Anniversary event certainly adds credibility to our destination and what we can deliver for the next major incentive group from around the globe.”

Above: Mercure Gold Coast Resort's new lobby.

Eat

Kiyomi – Chase Kojima has followed up his hatted Sydney restaurant with this Japanese themed restaurant in Jupiters Hotel & Casino. Expect modern Japanese cuisine using the best local produce to hand. Cucina Vivo – the second of Jupiters Hotel & Casino’s big draw culinary developments offers traditional Italian food (pictured). Long, shared tables, platters of hand-made pastas and a woodfired oven are on offer in an indoor-outdoor setting. Luke Mangan's Salt Grill – This signature Hilton eaterie still delivers on the culinary goods, while the celeb chef’s concept-deli, The Food Store, has a mouth-watering selection of European charcuterie, and Australian and imported wines, cheeses, olive oils, and coffee. Clifford’s Grill & Lounge and Walrus Social House – New establishments for Surfers Paradise, Clifford’s Grill & Lounge offers alfresco dining in a traditional grill house style. Skip over to the Walrus Social House for its cabana lounge and live music, washed down with its range of signature rum-based cocktails and tapas menu.

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 23

Case study The main stage had to accommodate up to 300 people at any one time.

2015 Pola Spring Convention Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre February 7, 2015

The event

The venue

Award-winning Japanese cosmetics house Pola Skincare and Cosmetics rewarded 1500 of its top sales representatives with an incentive trip to the Gold Coast marking Pola’s 85th anniversary. The 2015 Pola Spring Convention was hosted at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC), marking a first for both the Centre and Australia.

The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) was able to supply the client superior facilities, flexible space and worldclass equipment and technology. Big-name production brands such as the Centre’s DiGiCo digital console, Hog 4 lighting console, GrandMA lighting console and Yamaha digital mixer contributed to the GCCEC being placed at the top of the list for the client’s venue of choice.

The client With a reputation built on breakthrough research and cutting edge technology, Pola Skincare and Cosmetics was actively focused on bringing together AV and production to stage an inspiring event at the forefront of today’s technology. The client wanted a location and venue that would not only support their space needs and production requirements, but offer delegates a seamless event experience. With up to 300 people on stage at any one time, the sheer magnitude of the convention meant the client had to carefully consider a variety of decisive factors. 24 Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 www.cimmagazine.com

Logistics and challenges The 2015 Pola Spring Convention used approximately 5477sqm of event space. The convention involved a four day event build and overnight dismantle, with the GCCEC coordinating the extensive bump in around a number of other in-house clients. GCCEC’s audio-visual team earned the right to provide the client its first in-house production experience, which helped reduce costs for the client, and allowed the team to coordinate bump-in around the building’s event schedule. Burleigh-based Coastal Productions constructed a giant

Watch the video in the CIM iPad app.

luxury cruise liner stage set spanning 40 metres from bow to stern – one of the Centre’s largest ever in-house custom set designs. The additional depth of the Centre’s 14 metre-high arena ceiling height enabled the client’s carefully chosen 30-man operator team to work with GCCEC’s audio, lighting, visions, and camera specialists on a scale like no other. The 30 metre-wide by 8 metre-high suspended

wave wall served to create a realistic visual posing as the sail to the ship, while the 27 metre-wide by 5.5 metre-high mapped projection blend set the canvas for the convention’s key content. The 1700 seat arena setup provided sufficient staging area for the recognition ceremonies, with halls one and two accommodating an elaborate lunch and dinner party for delegates.

Highlights and special touches Considerable preliminary planning provided the client with optimal audio and lighting coverage, with minimal visible

cabling. The team sourced Australian native wattles to provide a striking visual display in the recognition ceremony, while Queensland’s floral emblem, the Cooktown Orchid, was presented to a number of the award winners to commemorate their visit. Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate was also invited to officially welcome delegates to the international convention.

Food and beverage Initial site visits saw the client fly 10 people to test more than 42 dishes and beverage options over a three day period. The visit resulted in the GCCEC’s chefs creating a customised menu that used an infusion of Japanese

and Australian inspired dishes, such as the Australian black Angus beef, local king prawns and Tasmanian salmon, to add an impressive and localised element to the delegates’ lunch and dinner.

Outcome The Gold Coast’s ability to seamlessly mix business, entertainment, lifestyle and natural beauty combined with GCCEC’s superior equipment and technical capabilities exceeded the client’s expectations in achieving the objectives of the event. Many delegates also took the opportunity to extend their stay and explore the leisure destination more intimately.

Australia’s Gold Coast BUSINESS EVENTS

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 25

CONVENTION CENTRES

Staying ahead of the game Global competition is hotting up in the lucrative conference sector with Australia’s convention centres making sure they stay one step ahead of their rivals, writes Sheridan Randall. There’s no resting on laurels when it comes to Australia’s conference centres, with the big players in capital cities constantly upgrading their offering, while newcomers are sprouting up in the regions. Sydney’s new jewel in its crown is still under construction, however International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) has been busy behind the scenes raising its profile overseas and locking in business for when it opens in late 2016. With new general manager Adam MatherBrown settling in, the ICC Sydney team, headed by ICC Sydney chief executive and AEG Ogden group director of convention centres Geoff Donaghy, travelled to Asia with Business Events Australia for its North East Asia Showcase in Shanghai (April 19-21) and the South East Asia Roadshow in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore (May 3-7). “Our involvement in Business Events Australia’s high profile annual marketing mission in the region allows us to further showcase the range of innovative marketing

tools that have already been incredibly well received by the industry,” says Donaghy. Of the 23 large international conventions already secured for ICC Sydney, many have previously been held at sister venue Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre including, the World Congress of Accountants (to be held

“This building is all about flexibility.” in Sydney in 2018) and the International Chamber of Commerce World Chambers Federation (ICC WCF) World Chambers Congress (to be held in Sydney in 2017). Conference centres in the other capital cities are making the most of having one less rival to deal with. The Adelaide Convention Centre is in the middle of its rebirth having just completed Stage 1 of its $350 million redevelopment which will be complete in mid-2017.

26 Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 www.cimmagazine.com

The new West Building (see Cover Story on page 10) offers 4300sqm of multipurpose convention floor space and features a number of firsts including Australia’s largest portable plenary and the first three dimensional retractable lighting grid in the world. “This building is all about flexibility,” says ACC chief executive Alec Gilbert. “It’s been a seven year journey, from feasibility studies and economic benefit projections to the government’s bold commitment to give $350 million to this project. The fascinating design stage, three years of construction and lastly the four day opening celebration just over a week ago, which was a great success. In 2017 it will be one of the most innovative convention centres in the world.” In the far north, the ongoing natural gas resource boom is giving a continuing lift to business at Darwin Convention Centre, which ended last year with one of its busiest seasons in six years.

Opposite page from left: BCEC general manager Bob O’Keeffe; gala dinner at BCEC; West Building’s Panorama Ballroom; MCEC signage.

The 2015 events calendar is looking strong, with the Centre set to welcome over 7000 delegates to Darwin in the next six months, according to general manager Janet Hamilton. “We are seeing significant growth in key industry sectors for the NT such as agriculture, mining, renewable energy, rural and remote health, where industry experts and business leaders are easily accessible to share their expertise with conference partners,” she says. “The Darwin Convention Centre is enjoying an increase in interest and enquiry from associations and organisations that have established linkages with Asia or are aiming to increase participation by Asian and South

Pacific delegates.”

booked in for 2015.

Cairns Convention Centre had a stellar year in 2014, with this year also looking healthy in more ways than one, with the awardwinning Centre preparing to welcome conferences covering a diverse range of health related topics.

“After receiving the AIPC Award for World’s Best Congress Centre in 2014 and hosting the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting to much acclaim, the Cairns Convention Centre has been able to capitalise on its position as a leading international convention venue and looks forward to hosting the world’s medical community in 2015,” says general manager Ross Steele.

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians will bring 900 delegates to their Future Directions in Health Congress, while the World Congress on Larynx Cancer; 25th International Society of Neurochemistry Meeting; 2015 Prostate Cancer World Congress; Suicide and Self Harm Prevention 2015 Conference; and the Laryngology Society of Australasia Meeting are all also

Tasmania is basking in the glow after bagging more than its fair share of medals at the recent National Tourism Awards. Andrew Best, Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart’s director of sales and marketing, puts the rise in service levels down to “the MONA factor”,

C A I R N S C O N V E N T I ON C E N T R E

WORLD’S BEST CONGRESS CENTRE 2014 AIPC APEX AWARD

visit: www.cairnsconvention.com.au

Serious Business in Australia’s Most Stunning Location www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 27

Right: Gala dinner at NCCC. Below: Robert Coates, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley general manager.

with the Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart’s conference business contributing to the hotel’s stellar occupancy rates (96 per cent in the year to date).

Marketing are also increasing opportunities to attract large key sector conferences to Brisbane through an expanded presence in the international marketplace.

credentials as a meetings place that matches the city’s growing creative sector, according to Jenifer Dwyer Slee, National Convention Centre director of sales and marketing.

“People are opening up new innovative experiences outside of the larger venues and that supports the conference business because it has to be about the destination and experience,” he says.

One recently confirmed international meeting is the IEEE Conference on Robotics and Automation 2018 which will bring more than 1500 of the world’s leading academic and corporate researchers and technical innovators in the area of robotics and automation to Brisbane.

“One of our goals in 2015 is to see the National Convention Centre enhancing the support of, and partnerships with, the Canberra community,” she says. “This includes the creative community which is growing by leaps and bounds in the capital.

With back to back bookings from mid-August through to December, the ability to offer function opportunities such as gala dinners outside the venue is a big factor, says Best. MONA, Macquarie Wharf No. 2 Cruise Terminal and Princes Wharf 1, not to mention the numerous smaller restaurants and bars, are all helping to lure large conference groups from the mainland. Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) is still riding the wave post G20, with “increased interest and activity as a result”, says general manager Bob O’Keeffe. Being hailed as the most successful and the friendliest G20 in the history of the event is one way BCEC can leverage from the G20, while programs developed in partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland and Brisbane

“If BCEC can host the greatest gathering of world leaders in the history of Australia at the G20 Leaders Summit with all its complex protocol, political and security layers then it can host any event in the world today,” says O’Keeffe. Being at the centre of government is an obvious drawcard for the National Convention Centre Canberra (NCCC), with manager Stephen Wood saying that Canberra was purpose built to govern Australia, “but it’s not too far a stretch to say that Canberra is purpose built for events”. “It is a city that is designed and as a result works really well for events,” he adds. However, the NCCC is also pushing its

“There has been substantial growth in the city in recent years, with Canberra providing a myriad of destination experiences for the corporate, franchise, government and association markets. We find that once we have hosted organisers and shown them Canberra’s brilliant possibilities, we have a very high success rate in winning the conference, and welcoming their delegates to our vibrant city.” The nation’s unofficial capital of cool, Melbourne, is looking at expansion plans for its Convention and Exhibition Centre finally getting the go-ahead. While details are still being ironed out behind the scenes, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) has also invested in a $3 million digital makeover of its audio-visual system,

Convention centre size • Boutique attitude

Hobart

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1 Davey Street, Hobart, TAS 7000 P +61 (03) 6235 4535 cesmsales@hgchobart.com.au www.grandchancellorhotels.com

making it the first centre in the Asia-Pacific to invest in a digital vision signal pathway across the venue in response to the rise of bring-your-own-device technology. Clients can simply connect their portable devices, including laptops, tablets and smartphones, and experience pixel perfect vision projected to MCEC’s screens and recording devices. Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre has also invested in new technology with an events app that offers an interactive event experience. Partnering with AVPartners, the app integrates social media tools, gamification, surveys and live polls with up-to-date event information to ensure events are accessible and relevant for event attendees online, as well as offline. Delegates can post updates, tag their location, like and comment on posts and send private messages all from within the app. They can also access up-to-date event documentation, such as programs and flyers, speaker, attendee and exhibitor information. The Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) is also staying ahead in the AV game with its new wireless presentation and collaboration system ClickShare, which allows multiple delegates to easily share content on the central meeting room screen. Up to four devices can be previewed onscreen at any

one time with just the click of a button.

venues and refurbishments.

GCCEC has installed 15 units throughout nine of its meeting rooms, allowing clients and their delegates to easily alternate between up to 64 buttons at any one time, while an unlimited number of mobile devices able to wirelessly connect to the system through the ClickShare App.

The Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley Conference and Events Centre opened earlier this year, looking to open up regional NSW to the larger meetings market with its 2000sqm of pre-function, meeting and exhibition space catering for up to 1600 delegates.

The Alice Springs Convention Centre is looking at a new chapter with the appointment of new general manager Scott

“It’s not too far a stretch to say that Canberra is purpose built for events.” Healey this month, who is keen to take advantage of the property’s recent $40 million hotel redevelopment project. “Everything about this opportunity is unique and inspiring,” he says. “I get to work with an incredibly passionate team representing world class meeting, accommodation and leisure facilities in an iconic Australian destination.” Regional Australia is also seeing a surge in investment in the conference venue sector with a number of game-changing new

“At this point 12 conferences have been held in the Centre in its first eight weeks of operation ranging in size from 250-650 pax.” says Robert Coates, general manager of Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley. “More impressively, we have another 30 confirmed conferences lined up for the remainder of the year with more in the pipeline for 2016.” In regional Victoria, Marysville also has a new conference space with the official opening this month of the $28 million Vibe Hotel Marysville marking a new chapter for the town that was destroyed in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. It’s adjoining purpose built Conference Centre can cater for over 300 in one large space or be divided into five smaller rooms, with a foyer acting as a breakout space. All of this investment across the conference sector is a sign of confidence both in capital cities and regional towns of the business events sector and the benefits it brings.

National Convention Centre

Canberra... Brilliant Possibilities 31 Constitution Avenue, Canberra ACT 2601

02 6276 5200

ncc.sales@ihg.com

nccc.com.au

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 29

IMEX FRANKFURT

Inside IMEX in Frankfurt 2015 Inspiring education sessions, exclusive networking and new exhibitors are set to boost business at international tradeshow IMEX in Frankfurt next month. An inspiring education program, exciting new exhibitors and a rise in the number of hosted buyer groups are just some of the hallmarks set to make their impact at this year’s IMEX in Frankfurt, set to take place from May 19 to 21. Around 4000 hosted buyers from across the world will have the opportunity to meet a wide range of new exhibitors from every continent and every meetings market sector. Emerging meetings and incentive destinations in particular will be well represented, with new exhibitors including Lithuania, Prague, Ras Al Khaimah, Meet Taiwan, Kaohsiung City and Visit Faroe Islands attending alongside the larger established destinations. Increasing their footprint this year are a number of stands including Singapore, China, Macau, Azerbaijan, Austria, VisitBrussels, Costa Rica, Peru and Brand USA. A unique Concierge Service for hosted buyers, launched last year, will be further enhanced with additional webinars, alongside lounge services such as free luggage storage and enhanced wi-fi. A highlight of this year’s event will once again be the educational program, which

will see several new strands introduced this year. Following on from the success of the Business Skills track last year there will be new early morning sessions on Business Networking and Building Confidence, and two new session formats will be geared towards specific groups: young professionals and senior professionals. Also new this year is Creative Thursday which will host interactive sessions from International Special Events Society (ISES) on “Co-creating Partnerships”, covering how to form effective partnerships with suppliers, and “The Design Cube”, offering advice on event design from concept through to delivery. A “Comfort, Stretch, Panic” workshop helps participants to identify ways in which they can challenge themselves to do things differently to help them grow and develop. “With a wide range of new exhibitors from every continent and meetings market sector, plus a rise in the number of hosted buyer groups, IMEX in Frankfurt is set to make a real impact this year,” said according to IMEX Group chairman Ray Bloom. “The inspiring education programme has evolved and enhanced year on year creating a compelling offering for our buyers.” Other highlights from the IMEX Frankfurt

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program will include: Exclusively Corporate@IMEX Taking place the day before the show opens, Exclusively Corporate@IMEX is the dedicated education and networking event specifically for corporate meeting and event planners. Corporate executives from across the world can expand their knowledge of organising events, as well as meet industry experts and their peers in an exclusive setting. A keynote address will be delivered by internationally acclaimed motivational speaker and authority on the success principles underpinning entrepreneurship, leadership, sales and motivation, Kevin Kelly. Senior corporate executives with more than 10 years’ experience also have the opportunity to attend the private Executive Meeting Forum. Association Day and Evening More than 300 association professionals from 40 countries are expected to attend Association Day. Held the day before IMEX begins, it is packed with insightful educational talks by peers and experts offering valuable advice on both the running of associations as well as association events. Politicians Forum Held at the Villa Kennedy, the Politicians

Keynote speaker announced for IMEX Frankfurt Bill McDermott, chief executive of business software company SAP, will deliver the keynote speech at the opening ceremony of business events expo IMEX, to be held in Frankfurt next month. A passionate advocate of the value and effectiveness of meetings as a means to drive business growth and profit, McDermott believes “the pageantry associated with a great meeting or event inspires people to achieve goals, aspirations and dreams that they could never have dreamt of in an email or a boring conference call”. While at IMEX, McDermott will also record an interview for the IMEX Politician’s Forum which takes place on May 19. IMEX 2015 opens its doors again in May.

Ray Bloom, chairman of IMEX Group, said he was delighted and honoured that McDermott will be speaking at the expo. “In the global business world, there is no greater and more authoritative corporate advocate for the power of professionally organised meetings and events in helping to generate profit than Bill McDermott,” he said. “It is a strong testament to his belief in our sector that he has decided to speak at our opening ceremony and visit the exhibition.”

Forum gathers ministers, mayors and senior city officials from around the world to meet with senior meeting industry leaders and share best practice and discuss ways to secure economic, social and reputational dividends that result from hosting meetings and events. The theme for 2015 is how to attract more meetings and events to a destination, focusing on destination brand

marketing, breaking down barriers to growth and the bidding process. Be Well at IMEX The new wellbeing initiative, “Be Well at IMEX”, is designed to help attendees stay healthy and relaxed during their busy days in Frankfurt. The Inspiration Hub has a dedicated Health and Wellbeing track with sessions on mindfulness in events,

the importance of good posture and staying healthy while travelling, while a new Meditation Room offers classes such as yoga, relaxation and guided mediation to help attendees re-energise between appointments. IMEX Frankfurt will be held at Messe Frankfurt from May 19 to 21. For more information visit www.imex-frankfurt.com.

ROSEHILL GARDENS The heart of Sydney’s events State-of-the-art conference and special event facilities. Located within 10 minutes of the Parramatta CBD, the Grand Pavilion offers flexible ‘pillar free’ room options with operable walls and wrap around balcony. The modern décor, easy load in/out access, high ceilings with floor to ceiling windows with blackout facilities is ideal for conferences, exhibitions, cocktail functions special events. The venue also offers free high density WiFi and parking onsite.

For bookings and enquiries P | 1300 729 668 E | contactus@australianturfclub.com.au australianturfclub.com.au

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, April 2015 31

EVENT REPORT

Putting security first When the Australian Council of Education Leaders held the inaugural Hedley Beare Memorial Lecture at Sydney’s SMC Conference & Function Centre they faced some unexpected security issues, writes Ylla Watkins.

Clockwise: Federal Minister for Education and Training, Christopher Pyne; the panel at ACEL’s recent event in Sydney; the foyer at the SMC Conference & Function Centre.

When the Australian Council of Education Leaders (ACEL), in partnership with the Department of Education, decided to launch the inaugural Hedley Beare Memorial Lecture at Sydney’s SMC Conference & Function Centre (SMC) in February, it was an opportunity for Federal Minister for Education and Training, Christopher Pyne, to release the Government’s School Agenda for 2015 and the Government Response to the Teacher Education Ministerial Advisory Group report to educators from around Australia. A Q&A session afterwards would see the Minister take

questions from the crowd of around 170 guests. Having held events at the Centre previously, ACEL were confident that the SMC team would be able to successfully deliver the event, which was potentially sensitive due to the involvement of the Minister, whose highprofile meant that security would require careful management. With the event to be held in the Centre’s Grand Lodge and Marble Foyer, the venue worked well for ACEL’s needs, with ACEL event co-ordinator Isabelle Maule saying that “considering the high level of security that

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was involved in moving the Minister through public access spaces, SMC staff found a solution on the go for any security issue that arose”. With registrations open to members and non-members, media expected to attend, and the prospect of university students staging a protest at the event, security was a major challenge for the Centre’s management team. “We originally thought this was going to be just another seminar but about a month before the event I got a call from the police saying ‘are you

How much do you know about IMEX? As the countdown to IMEX 2015 begins, take our quick quiz and find out… aware of a Facebook group threatening to protest and storm the venue?’,” recalls SMC’s director of sales, Scott Cooper. “I wasn’t, and the client didn’t know anything about it either.”

After speaking with the police, who explained that the Centre would need to supply security to help deal with the threat inside the venue (the police would control crowds on the street), SMC contracted security firm Constant Security. The venue worked closely with them to come up with a plan to ensure the safety of the Minister, event attendees and the general public. “Because Minister Pyne is a federal member of parliament, the Australian Federal Police were already involved – they come in and do a bomb sweep regardless; that’s normal – but they wanted to make sure it didn’t become a bigger security threat,” says Cooper. Nick Van Pooss, state operations manager – NSW, Constant Security, says the first step to coming up with a security strategy for the event was to work through “all the potential risks”. “A hostile crowd; not enough staff to deal with contingencies; all the ‘what ifs’ were accounted for,” he says. “Solid communication prior to the event solved any concerns, and boundaries were clearly established.” SMC also organised a number of site visits ahead of the event

While registered participants were subject to additional security measures including bag searches on the day, the student protestors failed to gain entry to the building itself after failing to breach police lines outside. “They tried to push through the police barricade to get through to the event,” says Cooper. “But the people in the room didn’t even know what was happening outside.” Overall, Cooper says the Centre is happy with how the event turned out. “Our main criteria was to make sure everyone was safe – our staff, the client, the delegates – but we were very happy that the protestors didn’t manage to get into the venue and storm the event.” Feedback from the client has also been extremely positive. “We felt it was a flawless event from all involved,” says Maule. “Without the hard work, high standards and clear understanding of the venue and the solutions they offered, their never say no attitude and friendliness, it would have been a much harder event to run.”

1. How many people from the international meetings industry attended last year’s IMEX? A) Just under 5,000 B) Just under 10,000 C) Just under 15,000

2. Which of the following subjects will be included in IMEX 2015’s 10-track education programme? A) Marketing B) Technology C) Wellbeing

Answers: 1. C 2. A,B&C 3. A 4. A,B&C 5. B (They’re not as shy as we thought, obviously.)

The protest turned out to be the idea of the NSW branch of the National Union of Students, unhappy about the Government’s policy of fee deregulation for universities.

with various stakeholders including ACEL’s chief executive, representatives from the Australian Federal Police, Local Area Police, Counter Terrorism Unit, Bomb Squad Unit and a representative from the Minister’s office. The Centre also communicated regularly with ACEL to constantly update all participants on logistical changes such as changes to the security arrangements and building access.

3. How big is the company behind the show? A) Under 60 people B) 60–120 people C) 120+ people

4. Which benefits do Hosted Buyers receive at IMEX? A) Free travel and accommodation B) An exclusive lounge with free wifi C) A friendly concierge service

5. Which destination held a screaming contest on their stand last year? A) Mexico B) Norway C) Japan

IMEX. A small, friendly company hosting a big, friendly event. Come and join us in fabulous Frankfurt 19-21 May 2015

Call +44 (0)1273 227311 Email info@imexexhibitions.com @imex_group

The worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events.

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VENUE UPDATE

Canberra gets wild The National Zoo & Aquarium’s Jamala Wildlife Lodge in Canberra offers a luxurious all-inclusive experience with behind-the-scenes tours and animal encounters. Three accommodation precincts are available, each with their own wildlife experience. Guests also share an exclusive dining experience with pre-dinner drinks served on the terrace, where you may meet snow leopards, before sitting down to enjoy a three-course dinner party-style menu in the Jamala Cave dining room.

News in brief Luxury makeover in Bangkok Minor Hotel Group has transformed the Four Seasons Bangkok hotel into the Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel & Spa. The hotel offers business delegates extensive meeting and event rooms, with flexibility for large and small events. The ballroom seats up to 450 for a banquet and 840 theatre-style.

A timeless addition to Adelaide The heritage-listed Colonial Mutual Life building in Adelaide’s CBD has come to life again after being derelict for many years, with the opening of the 5-star Mayfair Hotel. The hotel features 170 rooms and suites, a rooftop terrace and lounge, light filled meeting and function rooms, business centre, gym and a restaurant, bar and cafe.

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New look Rydges St Kilda Amalgamated Holdings Limited has expanded its Rydges brand in Melbourne with the addition of Rydges St Kilda (formally Urban St Kilda) alongside Rydges Melbourne and Swanston Street. Only 200 metres from Melbourne’s iconic inner-city beach, the hotel features two versatile conference spaces, a restaurant and bar, four unique room types and free wi-fi.

Largest facility in Northern Tasmania Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston, Tasmania, has expanded its Conference Centre including pre-function area, to more than 1000sqm, now offering delegates and PCOs the largest facility in Northern Tasmania. Specialising in mid to large events, the Centre offers a variety of choice for breakout options, including eight meeting rooms ranging in size from 48sqm to 700sqm, as well as a 300sqm ballroom, all located on a dedicated conference level.

Parkroyal Parramatta’s multi-million dollar makeover Pan Pacific Hotels Group has commenced a multi-million dollar makeover of Parkroyal Parramatta in Sydney. The $25 million extension will make Parkroyal Parramatta the largest hotel in Parramatta with 286 guestrooms. The project will involve the construction of a new seven-storey tower with a Club Lounge, as well as 40 Club Rooms and 50 Premium Rooms. The addition of four meeting rooms will bring the total number of conference and meeting spaces to 12, making it the largest meetings and events hotel in Parramatta. Construction is expected to be complete by June 2016.

Sydney lodge set to shine Glenferrie Lodge, in Sydney’s Kirribilli, has completed a $1 million refurbishment renovation of all 70 rooms of the 19th Century heritage guesthouse. The 3-star hotel has overhauled its bedrooms, bathrooms, dining and communal areas, and garden.“Upgrading Glenferrie Lodge has created a more comparable brand with our sister hotel, Cremorne Point Manor,” said Jean-Claude Branch, CEO of parent company Emerald City Hotels.

Mantra Group invests in Christchurch

Perth’s new waterfront venue

Mantra Group has revitalised the former All Seasons hotel in Christchurch, with a $30 million investment, reopening as the BreakFree on Cashel Christchurch hotel. The property consists of 263 hotel rooms, a contemporary restaurant and bar, and offers business delegates a conference room, which caters for up to 80 people, and two boardroom-style meeting spaces with capacity for 20 people.

Perth’s Old Port Waterfront has welcomed the Aqua Bar, a new multi-purpose venue for business events with a lounge, upper deck and terrace overlooking the Swan River and Perth skyline. With the ability to exclusively cater for up to 250 guests, Aqua Bar specialises in providing a la carte dining and cocktail functions for groups.

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TALKING POINT

Size matters Banging out 1000 freshly made crème brulees is all in a day’s work for Adelaide Entertainment Centre executive chef Brian Smith, who relishes the challenge of bringing freshly prepared restaurant quality food to so many, writes Sheridan Randall.

Welding torches may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to gala dinners, but they are just some of the tools of trade for the kitchen team at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre (AEC). Headed up by executive chef Brian Smith for the best part of a decade, the kitchen is responsible for showcasing South Australia’s finest food and wine for functions up to 1000 people.

even know how we are going to do it – it’s pretty exciting.” For the brulees they use 10 plumbers blow torches. But it’s not all about toys for the boys (and girls), it is primarily about the quality of produce.

“Logistics are so important,” he says. “I have a team that also believes that 1000 meals cooked and served is possible.”

“The State always has fantastic produce provided you want to search it out,” he says. “I have always sought out the best quality produce and best fruit and veg purveyors. I have had the same seafood supplier since 1984 just because they are the best.”

That team consists of five fulltime chefs and a roster of casual staff some of whom have been with the AEC almost as long as Smith. All come from a restaurant background.

South Australia is very much on the culinary map, with its world-class wines and gourmet produce well regarded both domestically and overseas.

“I need real chefs,” he says. “To get such a large group of restaurant trained chefs working in a banqueting outlet is the only way I can do it.”

Smith has seen the evolution of Adelaide’s food culture from the trenches, spending the last 20 years working in the city’s restaurants and wine bars. Stints in London and Sydney, and four years in South East Asia and India have also left their mark on Smith’s culinary philosophy. However, during that time he never imagined himself as a “functions chef”.

Only days away from a function that will see 600 guests tucking into their crème brulees, Smith says it is still “scary as hell” serving freshly made food for so many people. “You’ve got to think ‘how can we do this?’” he says. “We need to get together as a group and think totally differently about how we are going to pull it off. And sometimes we sell a concept before we

“It seemed like a massive challenge to see if

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I could produce handmade food cooked and served [for so many],” he says. “A lot of places serve the volume of meals we serve by regenerating or rewarming the food. Whereas we cook our food [to order]. It comes out of the oven, goes out onto the plate and straight out.” The pressure to deliver such high quality fare for every group means “my heart will be in my throat until the main course is done”, he says, but it is that challenge that keeps him motivated. “I guess if I ever stopped trying it will be time to go, and that has really been my ethos right through my whole career,” he says. “It’s so much about watching people eat your food and say wow!”

MEETING PEOPLE

The Langham, Melbourne has appointed André Jacques as director of sales and marketing. He brings with him more than 12 years of international and Australian experience including opening new hotels in Melbourne, Doha and Washington DC.

Tania Wakefield (pictured) joins The Spencer on Byron Hotel team as business development manager for meetings, incentives, conferences and events, replacing Paula Buchanan. Wakefield is highly experienced in the hotel sector and was most recently senior sales manager at Rendezvous Hotel, Auckland.

Brett Morris joins the Skycity Hamilton team as head of marketing; bringing with him 11 years of local and international marketing experience. Morris comes from his most recent role with Ultrafast Fibre, in Hamilton, where he headed the marketing and public affairs portfolios.

Hilton Worldwide has named Craig Bonnor (pictured) as general manager of Hilton Melbourne South Wharf, and Clinton Farley as hotel manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne – Flinders Street.

Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, in North Queensland, has appointed Greg Erwin as chief executive officer. Erwin has a wealth of tourism experience having spent 20 years in the industry, with the past four years as general manager at Mossman Gorge Centre.

Singapore Tourism Board welcomes John Gregory Conceicao to the Oceania team as regional director Oceania. He joined the Singapore Tourism Board in 2003, and has held several leadership positions involving marketing, strategic planning and capability development for the tourism sector in Singapore.

Mystery Creek Events Centre, in Hamilton, New Zealand, has appointed Lee Picken (pictured) as head of events. She will manage the events team and oversee all events both public and private. Other appointments include Alyshia Wallis as the centre’s event planner and Melissa Williams as key account manager.

Wyndham Hotel Group has appointed Bob Speed as resort manager of Ramada Resort Port Douglas in far North Queensland. He brings 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry to the role. Prior to his appointment he was general manager at Wyndham Resort Denarau Island in Fiji for four and a half years.

Brisbane Marketing has appointed Rob Nelson as general manager of Brisbane Convention Bureau. Previously he managed the marketing and commercial, and group events roles for Events SA at the South Australian Tourism Commission.

Darwin Convention Centre has announced the appointment of Pietro Delpechitra as director of client services. Delpechitra has an extensive background across event management, hospitality and food and beverage operations. Most recently he was the venue services and operations manager of Auckland Live.

Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre has appointed a number of executives ahead of the venue’s opening in 2016, including Troy Reynolds as head of event operations; Sheikha Al Mugheiry as international business development manager; and Thomas Joseph as business development manager for exhibitions.

Canberra Convention Bureau has a new director of marketing and communications, Giselle Radulovic. She brings with her a fresh perspective and strong credentials to complement the marketing and events team.

Scenic Hotel Group has appointed Simon Jackson to the role of general manager at Scenic Matavai Resort – Niue in the South Pacific. Most recently he was general manager at Scenic Heartland World Heritage Hotel, Hasst in New Zealand.

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PCO ASSOCIATION

Top tips of a successful exhibitor Exhibiting and sponsorship are some of the most cost effective ways of getting new customers, but if you do it wrong you may as well put your money on the floor and set it on fire, says Warwick Merry. Here he shares his top tips for ensuring you have successful exhibition. 1 Know your ‘why’ Too often people have no idea why they are exhibiting. They don’t know why they are on the stand, what the business is hoping to achieve, or how “success” will be measured. You must know why you are there and “branding” doesn’t count unless you have a strategy on how to measure any shift in brand awareness. 2 Don’t forget to pre market When you talk about exhibiting, most people get all excited about how sexy the booth will look and what else will be at the show. Hardly anyone takes the opportunity to do the pre-marketing work prior to the show. Don’t depend on the show organiser to bring in the crowds. Do your own marketing to your prospects, existing customers, target market and loyal fans to get them to the show. Consider a private function for your high worth clients to say thank you and have them bring an industry friend. 3 Design booths for customers Don’t forget the booth is not about you. You think it is but it’s not. It is about your customer and your prospect. What will they

want? What do you want them to do? Make sure you set it up so it is easy for them to do what you want them to. 4 Plan for the worst In business (and in life) a motto for success is “expect the best and plan for the worst”. As an exhibitor, this is your motto to live by. Plan on couriers not arriving, luggage being lost, signs falling down and your location changing and you won’t be disappointed. Having a plan for potential problems removes a great deal of stress. 5 Follow up, and quickly The half-life of interest in you and your product after you exhibit is two business days. That is, in two days your clients are half as interested as they were on the floor; another two days later they are half as interested again; and so on. Book out the two days directly after you exhibit to be used for follow up. Naturally you will have mountains of emails and phone messages. They will wait another two days; your show prospects won’t. 6 Measure up What gets measured gets improved. You also

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need to measure if your exhibit process was a success. Look back to your original goals – did you achieve them? If not, why not? What level of success have you experienced? What is the return on your investment? Only by measuring can you establish whether you will exhibit at this particular event again next time. Granted you may need to commit to a couple of shows before you can measure the results but it is essential to measure your exhibiting success. 7 Have fun Trade shows and event sponsorship is a form of speed dating. You have three seconds to connect and make an impact, so have some fun with it. Smile, laugh and enjoy the process. People would much prefer to do business with people they like. Enjoy your time on the floor. It is an absolute buzz and you will meet some amazing people as you do it. Warwick Merry is a master emcee, the chief exhibiting officer of the Exhibiting and Sponsorship Institute and a consultant to the PCO Association.

A new way of hiring Life is moving pretty fast for 23-year-old entrepreneur Gen George, founder of job agency OneShift, and she hopes that “speed” is proving a blessing to jobseekers and employers alike.

Travelling through Europe several years ago, the then 21-year-old Gen George came up with the idea for a new kind of job agency after struggling to find instant, flexible work to fund her travels.

The company is dedicated to taking the pain out of the recruitment process, she adds, using smart technology and data to assess the compatibility of jobseekers and employers and providing the best matches as quickly as possible.

“I noticed that there was a real gap in the market,” she recalls. “There was nothing to assist people trying to find this kind of work.

The service, which is free for jobseekers, works by using a unique algorithm that allows jobseekers to be effectively matched to jobs based on the skills and location they have provided.

“When I returned to Australia, I found the gap existed here too and decided to fill it with OneShift.

George says this not only makes the job hunt far more efficient for jobseekers but it also provides businesses with a wider pool of candidates suited for the position.

“I saw it as the answer to my own frustrations and I wanted to make it easier for the next person.” OneShift matches jobseekers to businesses with a commitment to speed and efficiency, with George saying her vision for the business is to provide an online platform for people worldwide to have instant access to available work.

Two years after founding OneShift, the company is a home-grown success story that is now also in New Zealand. George shared her story with attendees at last year’s PCO Conference in Canberra, giving members a first-hand insight into her motivation and the pace at which it is driving her ahead.

“We very much advocate a free lifestyle of travel and flexibility and I aim to contribute to this lifestyle by providing access to instant jobs and matches, whether it’s a one-off shift, casual, part-time or even permanent work,” she says.

“Taking OneShift to the US and then beyond is definitely in my sights,” she says. Gen George is founder and managing director of OneShift; she was a presenter at the PCO Association 2014 conference.

“I aim to give OneShift users the ability to step off a plane and have the immediacy and availability of work at their fingertips.”

PCO ASSOCIATION NEWS Diary date The Professional Conference Organisers (PCO) Association is holding its eighth annual PCO Conference and Exhibition, titled “Now is the time”, at the Adelaide Convention Centre from Sunday November 29 to Tuesday December 1.

Last year’s conference attracted a record turnout, with attendees ranging from professional conference organisers, in-house event managers, and corporate event managers to conference and event management educators, students and suppliers.

Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities for the conference are available. Please email conference@pco.asn.au for information. We have 60 exhibition booths available. Last year’s conference sold out early – don’t miss out!

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C A I R N S C O N V E N T I ON C E N T R E

WORLD’S BEST CONGRESS CENTRE 2014 AIPC APEX AWARD

The 2014 AIPC Apex Award was made in recognition of the highest client rating received by a convention centre ~ the ultimate recognition and endorsement of the Cairns Convention Centre team and our culture of ‘friendly tropical hospitality’. visit: www.cairnsconvention.com.au

Serious Business in Australia’s Most Stunning Location