CIM June 2014 Issue

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JUNE 2014

Sporting venues winning fans Alice Springs inspiring events TNQ all about collaboration

Big ideas National Convention Centre Canberra

CONTENTS

On the cover

42 32

REGULARS

Canberra’s collaborative approach is paying dividends with the nation’s capital and its National Convention Centre fast becoming the destination “where the nation meets”.

04 Publisher’s note

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MAY 2014

06 News 10 New Zealand news

FEATURES

16 International news 19 Q&A Jeremy Liddle, G20 Young

CIM0514.indd 1

Entrepreneurs Alliance Australia

42 Venue update

18 Cover story Canberra’s success story 20 Sporting venues Better than a sporting chance

44 Profile Alan Pryor, Kuala Lumpur

Shanghai aims high Indigenous experiences Geelong pulling together

24 Perth Western Australia’s power house

Convention Centre

45 Meeting people

28 Tropical North Queensland All about collaboration

46 PCO Association

06

31 Alice Springs Red alert for inspiring events

Well connected Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau 9/05/2014 4:25 pm

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Don’t miss

32 Cocktails & canapés Food stations on the move 34 Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre

10 years on and going strong

40 IT&CM China Full steam ahead at IT&CM China

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.

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 3

PUBLISHER’S WORD

The future of meetings looks bright I

f there was one take away message from last month’s IMEX 2014 tradeshow in Frankfurt it was that the future of the meetings industry looks bright. IMEX chairman Ray Bloom pointed to encouraging economic growth figures from around the world, identifying “a more positive and buoyant business mood than we’ve seen for some time”, while keynote speaker Taleb Rifai, secretary general for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, said that meetings are central to the current global boom in travel. The show itself was the largest in its 12 year history, attracting 3500 exhibitors and nearly 9000 visitors.

Closer to home, it was great to see the Australian Government throw its support behind Australia’s tourism industry in the Federal Budget, identifying tourism as one of five National Investment Priorities with particular emphasis on leveraging international demand and investment to help grow the industry, and protecting Tourism Australia from tough funding cuts recommended by the National Commission of Audit. Funds were specifically set aside to support the states and territories develop key tourism infrastructure to stimulate demand; to capitalise on emerging opportunities in Asia; and to improve the visitor experience of Chinese visitors, making it a more attractive destination.

With the business events industry growing around the globe, and particularly in our region, it’s more important than ever that our industry has the support of government.

By supporting Tourism Australia the government has shown where its intentions lie.

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Inc. ation oci ss

The mining boom may be cooling off in Western Australia but Perth itself is a hive of activity with plenty of money being thrown at public infrastructure development and the accommodation sector. Find out more on page 24.

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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EXCLUSIVE MEDIA BUSINESS PARTNER

make it darwin Australia’s tropical harbour city has two faces – a cultural mosaic showpiece with an enviable casual lifestyle on one hand and humming global hub leading the world in innovation industries on the other.

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INDUSTRY NEWS NEWS BRIEFS Club Melbourne ambassadors honoured Twelve Club Melbourne Ambassadors have been honoured for their role in securing 15 international conferences in 2013 for Melbourne, worth around $55 million in economic impact. Professor Phillip Batterham was named Club Melbourne’s first Special Contribution Award recipient.

BESydney launches new brand Business Events Sydney (BESydney) has launched its new brand, Sydney Shines, at the IMEX 2014 tradeshow in Frankfurt.

The new brand is about “sharing our city’s atmosphere of free thinking that results in inspired solutions”, according to BESydney CEO Lewis-Smith.

New events toolkit launched EarthCheck, the world's leading certification program for the travel sector, has released a new tool kit that helps organisations meet the ISO20121 standard for Sustainable Events Management.

Supported by EarthCheck's software, the Responsible Meetings and Events Tool helps event organisers prepare compliance reports on waste management, energy efficiency, ecosystem conservation, and management of water resources.

Four more events for ICC Sydney Business Events Sydney (BESydney) has secured another four events for the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney, which are expected to bring in more than $55 million to New South Wales. Business Events Sydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith said it was “a strong sign of confidence and trust in Sydney’s ability to deliver world-class events and infrastructure.”

Passaro to headline Convene Q One of Queensland’s best known business events professionals, Sandra Passaro, has been confirmed as a presenter at new business events expo Convene Q, set to be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on July 29.

Watch the video in the CIM iPad app.

Restaurant Australia launches Tourism Australia has officially unveiled its Restaurant Australia campaign.

said Tourism Australia managing director John O’Sullivan.

Focusing on Australia’s exceptional food and wine experiences as part of its global campaign “There’s nothing like Australia”, the new $10 million campaign includes a broadcast advertisement; dedicated online hub for Australian businesses to share their food and wine experiences with the world; consumer promotions in a dozen key international markets; and the “Invite the World to Dinner” gala event at the Museum of Old and New Art in Tasmania to be attended by 80 international media and key food and wine influencers.

Tourism Australia chief marketing officer Nick Baker said the new campaign had been developed based on recent research which showed Australia was well placed to capitalise on growing demand amongst international travellers for local culinary experiences as part of their travel.

“Restaurant Australia is all about bringing together the incredible stories of our people, place and produce to demonstrate to the world that every day, unique and exceptional food and wine experiences are being served-up in remarkable locations, and then sharing these stories through the creation of rich and compelling content,”

“The concept of ‘Restaurant Australia’ has been built based on consumer research which identified ‘food and wine’ as a key factor in holiday decision making and the most important emotive trigger, ahead of world class beauty, for influencing people’s destination choice,” Baker said.

“For people who've never visited Australia awareness of our food and wine offering is low. However, once they visit, people realise the variety and quality of our food and wine experiences is world-class and Australia moves to the top of the rankings as a one of the world’s best culinary destinations.”

Meeting in Melbourne only The Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) has launched its new website, www.melbournecb.com.au, which offers comprehensive event planning tools and destination information.

The new website is built on a responsive

6 Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

platform so it can be easily viewed across desktops, tablets and smart phones and the navigation menu ensures all of the information and rich media – such as downloadable brochures, videos and maps – are accessible with just a click.

Bumper year for Adelaide bookings Adelaide Convention Bureau and its Team Adelaide partners have reported some impressive business tourism results so far this financial year to the end March.

During the nine month period, 86 events have confirmed they will be held in Adelaide. The economic benefit from these events will be over $80 million.

A further 48 events worth up to $83 million are sitting in the pipeline with results of the bids submitted by the Bureau to be announced in the coming months.

“Undoubtedly the new offerings we have available in the likes of the Adelaide Oval and the Convention Centre developments have aided our success,” said Adelaide Convention Bureau CEO Damien Kitto.

“Adelaide is certainly attracting its fair share of attention right now with key economic industry sector conventions. Our strategic partnership with Team Adelaide partners at this time is vital and one we look forward to continuing to strengthen as the remaining development projects come to fruition.”

State Minister for Tourism Leon Bignell has thrown his weight behind the sector, saying “our Government recognises the importance of business tourism and we have committed to an unprecedented amount of infrastructure being built throughout the city including the ongoing Riverbank project which provides great opportunities to this lucrative tourism sector”.

MCEC funding letdown Hopes of a green light for a much needed expansion of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) have been dashed following the release of the latest round of

Victorian government funding figures.

The Victorian Government has earmarked an additional $25.7 million over four years to market and develop Melbourne as a key

“Tourism is worth $5 billion to the South Australian economy each year and we want to increase this to $8 billion by 2020,” he said.

“The Adelaide Convention Bureau delivers an outstanding result for the state, not only in terms of events delivered, but their average annual return on investment of 100+: 1 is exceptional and something we are pleased to be assisting with through this successful strategic relationship.”

destination for business events, however, MCEC will not directly benefit.

Victoria Tourism Industry Council chief executive Dianne Smith welcomed the additional funding but was disappointed at MCEC missing out, saying it “will have flow-on affects to the $16 billion Victorian tourism and events industries”.

“MCEC is an outstanding facility for conventions and exhibitions, and contributes approximately $212 million each year to Victoria’s economy,” she said.

“The venue is currently being forced to turn away business due to a lack of exhibition space. The State Government has missed an important opportunity to invest in Victoria’s future through funding the extension of this important Melbourne venue.”

The Tourism and Transport Forum also expressed disappointment at the funding omission, with the industry body’s CEO, Ken Morrison, saying the decline in Victoria’s manufacturing sector meant that “now is the right time to be committing additional funding to tourism as a growth industry”.

a click away Karen Bolinger, MCB’s chief executive, said that the new website is part of MCB’s digital strategy to provide more engaging and interactive connections with associations and conference, incentive and meeting planners, no matter where they are

in the world.

“MCB’s new website was developed from research across key clients and partners to deliver a comprehensive planning tool for holding business events in Melbourne,” she said.

Key features include three search modules sortable across accommodation and venue capacity, event service type, tours and activities; pinned “Request a Proposal”

and “Compare” buttons; and Google map integration to see hotels, restaurants, and attractions close to preferred venues or accommodation.

It also contains a “Planning Toolkit” to assist with promotion and delegate boosting for an event; access to the digitally-integrated Melbourne Planners' Guide; and information and insider tips about visiting the city and greater Victoria.

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 7

BESydney launches new benchmarking system Business Events Sydney (BESydney) has released new methodology that could set a new benchmark for credible and transparent reporting by the global business events industry.

BESydney’s new inscope expenditure methodology is believed to be the first of its kind to accurately measure the true value of “new money” to destinations that host business events.

Speaking at IMEX in Frankfurt last month, BESydney chief executive Lyn Lewis-Smith announced that the findings of the Estimating inscope expenditure attributed to business events in New South Wales – the third phase of the bureau’s research into the benefits and legacies of business events – provided deeper and more accurate insights into the direct association delegate expenditure contribution of business events to host destinations.

“As an industry, I think that we’ve grown enormously over the past decade,” she said.

“The business events industry is increasingly sophisticated and the legacies of events

are increasingly understood: how cities and countries view, value and leverage business events is evolving.

“The integrity of data is paramount and directly influences the reputation of our industry. Credibility, accountability and consistency are three things any leading industry should strive for in the data they gather. Robust information means we can share a deeper understanding of our industry and its commercial context.

“We must be accountable. We must be accurate. We must be transparent. Above all, we must not be afraid to ask questions, to challenge the way things ‘have always been done’, and to strive for continual improvement.

“In Sydney, we place great value on the quality of data and measurement. We’ve got billion-dollar infrastructure investments underway that are directly linked to the business events industry. It’s important to be able to explain to our community how these major pieces of infrastructure contribute to economic wellbeing and the overall health of

8 Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

our state and our nation.”

Undertaken in partnership with the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), data was drawn from 12 international conferences held in Sydney in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The expenditure figures included in the study represented expenditure in the host region that was directly linked to the business event, that is those that would not have occurred had the business event not taken place. Distinct from previous economic impact studies, it excluded expenditure that did not contribute “new money” to the host destination, such as airfares, conference registration fees, and expenditure made by delegates who were coming to the destination anyway.

“The purpose of this latest research was to develop a robust, rigorous and sophisticated methodology for accurately defining and measuring the impacts of our industry,” Lewis-Smith said. “Ultimately, we wanted to establish a ‘best practice’ approach. I believe we have achieved this.”

Advertorial

EX Factor for business events

Sydney’s Inspire EX offers much to help those who organise business events Inspire EX, organiser of Sydney’s largest trade shows for the business and special events industry, has announced a number of new exhibitors and partnerships for their upcoming show, at Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island on August 18 and 19.

Appetite for innovation and fresh ideas for business events has driven visitor demand for new exhibitors and Inspire EX is set to deliver. The partnerships are designed to raise the profile of each company’s commitment to various show elements, including the importance of utilising technology in events, professional development, forming new business relationships and sourcing quality event destinations, venues and services.

As well as highlighting venues and destinations, Inspire EX will feature entertainers, cuisine and elements that make events sparkle. It is a chance to learn from top event professionals, compare the latest event innovations, and network with peers and suppliers.

More than 6000 buyers from the corporate and special events world are expected to attend the event, and the VIP Buyer Program connects exhibitors and attendees who have solid buying potential. VIP buyers manage an average of 30 events a year with budgets of at least $400,000.

A wide range of presentations will be offered at the show with such speakers as international special events design guru John Daly. His presentation is

supported by the “No matter what the budget, show’s official I believe imagination can go international a long way” airline partner Delta Air Lines.

Drawing on his experiences producing events for Top 50 Fortune 500 companies and such celebrities as Tom Cruise, Will Smith and Oprah Winfrey, he will talk about innovative ways to create events.

“I have worked with event budgets from zero to several million dollars, but no matter what the budget, I believe imagination can go a long way,” he says.

“My clients demand perfection, and it is very important—especially in Hollywood—to set boundaries from the beginning.

“I feel privileged to have worked with exclusive brands and celebrities, but I would have nothing today if I hadn’t worked with the utmost respect and dedication to their vision. After all, it is their event.”

Registration to attend is free at inspireex.com.au.

Tickets to the Inspire EX seminar program are now available, and applications are being taken for the VIP Buyer Program.

18 & 19 August 2014 | Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island

Inspire EX hosts the best from the business and special event industry: •

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Register now and purchase seminar tickets: inspireex.com.au Event Partners

inspiring creativity

NZ NEWS

Rotorua to host TRENZ North Island, a collective representing eight regions – The Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Eastland, Hawke’s Bay, Ruapehu, Lake Taupo, Waikato and Rotorua. The event was last held in Rotorua in 2008.

The conference attracts more than 1000 tourist operators, buyers and media and is traditionally held in the same city for two years. The event brings tens of millions of dollars to the economy and several million dollars to the host region.

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick says winning TRENZ is a great opportunity to showcase the Rotorua district.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has announced that international tourism event TRENZ will return to Rotorua in 2015.

TRENZ 2015 will take place on May 17-20 at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre. Rotorua made a successful bid after partnering with Explore Central

“Having TRENZ hosted in Rotorua really adds value to our vision of growing tourism and seeking economic development opportunities through spa development and attracting major events for the region,” he said.

Queenstown’s most

spectacular venue

Tourism New Zealand and Air NZ extend partnership Air New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand have announced a NZ$20 million extension to their marketing partnership.

The airline signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tourism New Zealand last year to undertake joint marketing activity promoting travel to New Zealand in key international markets.

The latest announcement, which will see the partnership continue through financial year 2015, will extend cooperative marketing activity to include Singapore and South East Asia, in support of Air New Zealand’s proposed alliance with Singapore Airlines.

SKQ13111

SKQ13218

Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon says the extension of the partnership will allow the organisations to continue to build on the success of their initial agreement.

03 441 0101 functions@skyline.co.nz skyline.co.nz/queenstown/functions

“Working together to capitalise on this momentum is a natural progression that will positively impact New Zealand’s tourism industry and is a wonderful example of collaboration which supports the Tourism Industry Association’s

10 Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

Tourism 2025 framework for growth,” said Luxon.

Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler says the pair has a strong track record of working together and achieving measurable results.

“Visitor arrivals are up more than 5 per cent to 2.75 million international visitors in the year to March,” he said.

“We know that working in partnerships extends the reach and effectiveness of our campaigns, and I look forward to continuing to collaborate with Air New Zealand to build on the positive results we have achieved to date.

“Under the MoU, Air New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand will each invest $10 million over the next 12 months in co-operative marketing activity in the key markets of Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, North America, the United Kingdom and Europe as well as increased activity in emerging markets such as India, Indonesia and Latin America. The activity will also target high-value visitors targeting the lucrative premium and business events sectors.”

BEYOND THE AGENDA

A business event in New Zealand goes beyond expectation.

Boasting world-class facilities, spectacular landscapes, friendly people, and a diverse range of activities within easy reach, New Zealand will take your next event from ordinary to extraordinary. Plan the conference they’ll never forget today.

businessevents.newzealand.com TOU0211\CIM_FPC\TBWA

Royal tour puts NZ top of UK bucket list New Zealand has been voted the number one dream holiday destination for Brits in a survey conducted after the royal tour by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The survey, by travel site TripAdvisor, showed that if money was no object New Zealand would be the country British holidaymakers would most want to visit.

Australia was named as the second most desirable location in the world and the Caribbean ranked in third place.

The results of the survey were released just days after the Duke and Duchess, and Prince George, finished their three-week tour of New Zealand and Australia which TripAdvisor predicts will result in a "huge tourism boost".

Meanwhile hotel booking

12 Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

website Trivago showed a 70 per cent increase in hotel searches for New Zealand and 32 per cent for Australia following the royal tour. The largest increase was in Wellington where searches went up by 169 per cent.

The Royal family was based in Wellington during the 10-day tour of New Zealand and visited seven other locations including Blenheim in the Marlborough region, Auckland, Hamilton and Cambridge in Waikato, Dunedin, Christchurch and Queenstown (pictured, at Amisfield Winery) in the South Island.

International enquiries have also centred on the two luxury lodges where the Royal couple stayed during their New Zealand tour, Matakauri Lodge near Queenstown and Wharekauhau Lodge in Wairarapa, north of Wellington.

Wero funding approved The first stage of the development, opening in 2016, includes a 1200sqm function centre adjourning the current events centre, which will be able to operate as one large flat floor or six individual breakout rooms accommodating 150 delegates in each.

The venue will be available to business events groups for meetings and teambuilding, says sales manager Karyn Spencer.

Funding for Wero, the Olympic standard white water and cultural centre planned for the site adjoining the Vodafone Events Centre in Auckland, has been approved by Auckland Council.

“All going well, we will open

in early 2016 and have a point of difference that no one will be able to match,” says Richard Jeffery, chief executive of Vodafone Events Centre.

“This will attract further developments and in particular a hotel development.”

“Imagine in the middle of an urban environment being able to raft on grade four rapids and then step out into a purpose build convention centre; great for team building, just having fun and all in a safe environment,” she said.

Bookings for business events will be open from December 2015.

Lake Tekapo Lodge best for guests New Zealand’s Lake Tekapo Lodge has been named the best property in Oceania and Asia in accommodation booking website Booking.com’s annual “Best of Booking’s Best” awards.

Based on guest reviews, Booking.com analysed the site’s most popular properties which were then analysed for high scores across key categories such as staff, comfort, service, cleanliness, location and value for money.

“Our hard work has certainly paid off and we’re really proud to help keep Tekapo on the map,” said co-owner Stephanie Hagen.

A unique venue for A memorAble event www.motat.org.nz

functions@motat.org.nz

+64 9 815 5800

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 13

Mentor programme launches What started as a discussion amongst three members of Conventions and Incentives New Zealand’s (CINZ) PCO Group has now evolved into a robust mentoring programme developed by a professional coaching and mentoring company.

Due to get under way this month, the programme involves experienced PCOs as mentors providing personal and professional guidance to those keen to pursue a career in the management of business events.

Over a 16 week period mentoring pairs will arrange their own meetings and goal setting sheets, mentoring log books and suggested discussion topics to help guide them. Details of the programme can be found on CINZ’s website www.conventionsnz.co.nz.

Having been lucky enough to be a mentor in a formal mentoring programme in the past I’ve witnessed first-hand how much the process benefits the mentee, building their confidence and inspiring them. I’d hasten to add though that I’ve learned as much as my mentees and enriched my own skills.

I’ve been delighted to see the enthusiasm for this project:

by CINZ, the mentors and the mentees. Perhaps it might be adopted by other specialist groups in the meetings business?

Jan Tonkin is managing director of New Zealand PCO, The Conference Company; vice-president of International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO); and vice-chair of the IAPCO Training Academy.

Hollyford launches new hiking product Hollyford Track guided walks has launched a new product for the 2014-15 season. The two-day “Ocean to Alps” is an exclusive guided walk for small groups.

Catering to between six and 16 people, the trip includes a helicopter flight in, comfortable accommodation in a fullycatered private wilderness lodge, a jet boat trip and, of course, walking with specialist and experienced guides to

bring the forest, coastal areas and personalities of the Hollyford to life.

“A huge ‘plus’ is the chance to stay in the Martins Bay private Wilderness Lodge which includes twin-share bedding, hot showers, great cuisine and a warm and spacious lounge,” said Hollyford Track marketing manager Nigel Kerr. “It’s the perfect place to view those stunning Fiordland sunsets.”

NZ climbs ICCA rankings New Zealand has achieved its highest ever placing in the International Conference and Convention Association (ICCA) annual country rankings, coming in at number 51, four places up on last year.

"This is an encouraging result for a country of our size and a real testament to New Zealand's recent investment in and commitment to developing the business events sector over the past years,” says Tourism New Zealand's (TNZ) international business events manager Bjoern Spreitzer.

"In 2013 New Zealand hosted 48 international events – an increase on the previous year and a trend we want to continue.

“And it is great to see such a wide spread of regions hosting international events. While the main centres of Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington [pictured] and Christchurch still feature heavily, this year sees the inclusion of regions such as Hamilton, the Bay of Islands, Nelson and a significant increase for Dunedin.”

The report factors in the number of events hosted by each country and city. The more international conferences and events hosted, the higher the potential ranking.

TNZ's management of the Conference Assistance Programme has seen New Zealand bid for 33 events over the last financial year, securing seven international events to date.

"With these results we are confident that the ‘100% Pure New Zealand – Naturally Beyond Convention’ marketing campaign is effectively positioning New Zealand as a compelling destination for international conferences and events," says Spreitzer.

"While our campaign communicates New Zealand's fantastic landscapes, welcoming hosts and world class venues, an additional focus is on talking directly to those sectors that New Zealand can deliver expertise and leadership to the rest of the world in.

"These include marine, aviation, agribusiness, health science, high value foods and earth sciences."

Smooth sailing all the way For comprehensive free assistance with your conference, meetings and incentives, contact the Auckland Convention Bureau. Because when it comes to getting the ideal venue, transport, accommodation and activities in and around Auckland, no one has more knowledge and experience.

Auckland Convention Bureau conventions@aucklandnz.com +64 9 365 0592 aucklandnz.com/conventions

14 Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

New hotel for Auckland Waterfront Auckland and Beijing-based developer Fu Wah International Group have formed a partnership to build a new 200room hotel on the western edge of the Viaduct Harbour by 2017.

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development chief executive Brett O’Riley says the new hotel will help contribute to growing the visitor economy, in line with the targets in the Auckland Visitor Plan.

“The hotel – in its amazing location on the water’s edge in the heart of Auckland’s innovation precinct – will enhance our premium accommodation offering,” he said.

“As part of our strategy to attract more high-net wealth individuals to holiday and do business here, we’ve been working with the Fu Wah Group to help them identify the advantages of doing business in Auckland.”

Novotel for New Plymouth Currently under construction, the new 100-room Novotel New Plymouth is scheduled to open early next year.

corner of Leach and Hobson Streets, will feature a mix of executive and studio rooms, one-bedroom apartments and a penthouse suite, three food and beverage outlets, two meeting rooms, a swimming pool, gymnasium and day spa.

The $22 million hotel development, located on the

“This is a key development for the Taranaki region, which will

Accor has announced that a new-build Novotel hotel in New Plymouth will join its network in 2015.

positively add to New Zealand’s hotel industry and wider economy,” said Garth Simmons, vice president operations for Accor New Zealand, Fiji and Japan.

“The hotel’s opening will stimulate travel to the region from a range of sectors, particularly business and leisure travel.”

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 15

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

European growth good news for Australia Australia’s focus on the United Kingdom and Europe was reaffirmed last month with one of its strongest representations at European trade show IMEX Frankfurt, buoyed by indications the region’s business confidence is beginning to show signs of recovery.

factor when choosing it as a business events destination.

For the first time since 2010, the latest Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) report confirms that five of the major business travel markets, the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, will increase their business travel spending – a key indicator that the market is on the rise.

“Exceptional experiences, destinations and world-class food and wine are just a few of the main reasons Australia consistently ranks as a preferred business events destination,” said Penny Lion, general manager Business Events Australia.

A 14-strong delegation representing Australia’s business events industry joined Tourism Australia at IMEX Frankfurt to showcase the best Australia has to offer in the conference, incentive and association markets.

According to recent research commissioned by Tourism Australia, Australia’s global reputation as a place to do business is an increasingly important

Australia also performed strongly against other destinations on critical factors such as safety and security, as well as the quality of business event facilities, accommodation and local cuisine.

“We are continually investing in our worldclass business events capabilities to uphold our reputation for excellence, and we are proud to showcase some of the very best Australia has to offer at IMEX Frankfurt.

"The UK and Europe have traditionally been strong markets for Australia’s business events sector, so it is pleasing to see the region’s key confidence indicators starting to improve.”

Prague to host 56th ICCA Congress in 2017 The Czech Republic capital of Prague will host the 56th International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Congress in 2017, beating shortlisted destinations Gdansk in Poland and St. Petersburg in Russia.

Making the announcement at the ICCA Mid-Year meetings at IMEX Frankfurt, ICCA president Arnaldo Nardone said, “With ICCA never having previously held our Congress in the Czech Republic, I have no doubt that our friends in Prague will put on a wonderful experience for our members, and that knowledge and expertise will be transferred in both directions, from our global experts to local meetings professionals, and vice versa”.

“As always, this has been another tremendously tough bidding competition between highly ambitious destinations, conducted in a wonderful ICCA spirit of friendliness and fairness, with all of the candidates showing creativity, professionalism and commitment towards ICCA’s strategic business objectives, including our keenness to further develop the association’s membership in Eastern Europe,” he added.

The bid presentations by the shortlisted destinations traditionally take place during the ICCA Board meetings in the weekend before IMEX. Candidates are required to address ICCA's strategic development objectives, to identify innovative ways to boost delegates' business opportunities, as well as to address a rigorous list of financial and logistical criteria.

“ICCA delegates are possibly the toughest clients any destination can host,” said ICCA chief executive Martin Sirk. “They are seasoned professionals, notoriously difficult to surprise or impress, but I have absolutely no doubt, based on the creativity and commitment shown by the Czech team, that they will be given an unforgettable experience in 2017."

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Tokyo hosts mega medical conference

International association meetings market strong

Tokyo has hosted the largest-ever international conference to be held in the capital city and the biggest medical conference in Japan to date with approximately 20,000 delegates attending the World Ophthalmology Congress 2014 (WOC2014) and 29th Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO2014) in April.

The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) is reporting another year of continued strength in the international association meetings market, following the release of its 2013 Top 20 Rankings for countries and cities.

Of the total number of delegates, 9000 guests came from overseas. The meetings also marked the first time ever for the facilities at the Tokyo International Forum and Imperial Hotel Tokyo to be almost entirely dedicated to the event.

One of the most noticeable welcoming features was the street-side flags designed exclusively for WOC2014, and sponsored by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The city government also developed a choice of 16 courses showcasing Tokyo’s famous sightseeing locations, which included MeijiJingu Shrine and the ever popular new landmark, Tokyo Skytree. There were also six organised courses in a program delivering Japanese Cultural Experiences, such as Mochi-Pounding and Japanese Calligraphy – attracting more than 1000 overseas guests.

The report found 11,685 regularly occurring association events which rotate between at least three countries were identified as having taken place during 2013, 535 more than were held the year before.

There was little change in the top 10 country rankings, with the US, Germany and Spain retaining 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, however France and the UK switched places with France now in 4th place. The top 10 is rounded out by Italy, Japan, China, Brazil and The Netherlands.

In the city rankings, Paris, which was in 2nd place last year, ousted Vienna, which has been in first place since 2005.

Madrid, moved into 2nd place and Vienna 3rd. Barcelona climbs one place to 4th and Berlin moves from 3rd to 5th place. Singapore remains 6th and London fell from a shared 6th place to 7th. Istanbul climbs one place to 8th and Lisbon and Seoul, both newcomers in

the top 10, share 9th place.

“It shouldn’t be surprising that our 2013 figures have demonstrated the strength of the international association meetings sector, since the overall picture for our industry is significantly better than has been the case for quite some time,” said ICCA chief executive Martin Sirk.

“But it should be remembered that this is a sector that has shown significant growth in every single year since the financial crisis hit the world economy in 2008. The international association meetings sector is a solid, reliable performer, in good times and bad, and the longer term trends are the most critically important factors when preparing strategic plans and investment decisions. I am convinced that every serious meetings destination, internationally ambitious venue, and forward-thinking meetings management company should include international associations in their marketing and development strategies.”

Australia came in 16th place in the country rankings, with 231 meetings, while Sydney was the highest Australian city, in joint 20th place, with 93 meetings.

Meet and greet. More fun in the

Philippines facebook.com/itsmorefuninthephilippines

Visit morefuninthephilippines.com.au

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 17

COVER STORY

Working together, the National Convention Centre Canberra (NCCC) and Canberra Convention Bureau have secured two key business event conferences for the city this year; the Associations Forum National Conference from July 16-17 and the PCO Association Conference from November 30 to December 2.

Each conference is expected to attract over 400 delegates, reinforcing Canberra’s position as the meeting place of Australia’s biggest ideas.

Big ideas Canberra’s collaborative approach is paying dividends with the nation’s capital and its National Convention Centre fast becoming the destination “where the nation meets”.

For more information on the city “Where the Nation Meets” visit www.nccc.com.au.

Stephen Wood (pictured), manager for National Convention Centre Canberra (NCCC), says the delegates will receive “a warm welcome from the city”.

“The organisers have developed a dynamic program to attract delegates, and along with our partner Canberra Convention Bureau, the delegates will experience some of Canberra’s national attractions that provide a unique experience for delegates,” he says.

The national Associations market is a key segment for the NCCC, representing over 40 per cent of its business mix.

Likewise Canberra is of great importance to the national Associations market, giving delegates unparalleled access to key political figures and senior decision makers, world leading researchers, academics, scientists and innovators in a diverse range of fields.

Jenny Morrell, director of regional sales Australasia at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) which manages the Centre, says the partnership between the NCCC and Canberra Convention Bureau “is a mutually beneficial way for us to come together and show Australia and the world that Canberra means business when it

18 Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

comes to business events”.

“IHG has a unique position by providing conference organisers three solutions including Crowne Plaza Canberra, Parliament House Catering by IHG and NCCC,” she adds.

“Canberra is the perfect place for national Associations delegates to stimulate their senses, engage their mind and fire their imagination. Big ideas emerge, circulate and grow here, thanks to unique links between leading thinkers in business, government, education and research.”

As the nation’s capital, Canberra is built on the collective spirit and potential of Australia’s people. Its great institutions tell the stories of the nation and its open and connected community encourages innovation.

Canberra has a proud past, a vibrant and exciting present and is set to embrace the future with a number of exciting developments on the horizon, with the city set to host Australia's largest free outdoor wireless internet network for public use, rolling out across the CBD from the second half of this year.

Canberra Airport has also unveiled its 20-year master plan which will see it bolster its international connections, providing greater access to New Zealand and Asia, while 2015 will see the city play host to a number of high profile domestic and international events including the ANZAC Centenary commemorations, the AFC Asian Cup and ICC Cricket World Cup. This year has also seen the strengthening of the NCCC’s sales and marketing team with the appointment of key team members. Based in Canberra, the new team members are Jenifer Dwyer Slee, director of sales and marketing, and Karen Lock, business development manager. Donna Forbes, director of business development, is based in Sydney.

Q&A

Alliance for change The G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance Summit will take place in Australia in July in advance of the G20 Summit in November, with the aim of championing the importance of young entrepreneurs to the G20 member nations. Jeremy Liddle, president of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance Australia, explains.

Q: What is the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance (G20YEA)?

A: The Alliance is a global movement of young entrepreneurs and the organisations that support them in G20 member nations. As the organisations that champion youth entrepreneurship, we are committed to engaging the G20 leaders in a discussion about the value of young entrepreneurs to our communities, our societies and our economies. We believe young entrepreneurs can be powerful drivers of economic renewal, job creation, innovation and social change.

Q: What are the goals of the G20YEA Summit?

we’re trying to achieve are acknowledgment by world political leaders in a G20 communiqué that young entrepreneurs and innovation create solutions to many of the issues; establishment of task forces within each country for entrepreneur ecosystem development; creation of proactive solutions to the G20 priority problems; growth of existing businesses internationally and build new enterprises; and identification of best practice.

Q: “Generation Y” and “Generation Next” sometimes get a bad rap. Can young people effect social change?

A: Young people are the primary agents for social change! It is the young that are most focused on creating a positive and attractive future for themselves. What they need is the education, support and tools in order to make that happen.

A: The G20YEA Summit is a forum where young entrepreneurs, thought leaders and worldclass entrepreneurship-focused organisations from around the world can meet with their peers and develop recommendations to drive youth entrepreneurship in Q: How will you measure the their respective countries. These success of the Summit? recommendations are then put A: The Summit will be a success forward to leaders attending if we complete our action plan on the [Business] B20 and G20 youth employment and empower Summits and are put into action an army of 500-plus top young Watch the video in the CIM iPad app. by the G20YEA members in entrepreneurs and global leaders their respective countries. We’re to implement it, and also if we expecting 700 delegates from see youth and entrepreneurship recognised in the G20 leaders around the world to attend the 2014 summit. declaration.

Q: Is the Summit concentrating on a specific issue?

Q: What have been some of the highpoints for the Summit in A: On the agenda this year is how entrepreneurship can help previous years? reduce youth unemployment. Most economies are struggling to A: Some of the highlights from previous Summits have been Nobel create enough employment for their young populations. There are Laureate Professor Mohamed Yunus [a social entrepreneur who currently 1.8 billion youth, of which 90 per cent live in developing pioneered the concepts of microcredit and microfinance] speaking countries and two thirds of those are underemployed. The Alliance in France in 2011, a two-hour audience with then-Mexican is working to promote youth entrepreneurship as a solution to President Felipe Calderone in 2012, and the B20 and G20 leaders the challenge of economic renewal. We believe that this global agreeing in Russia [2013] that youth and entrepreneurship are a movement – and the energy and dynamism it will generate – can transform our societies and our economies. The key things solution to the global unemployment crisis. www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 19

SPORTING VENUES

Sporting chance Sporting venues across the country have upgraded their meeting spaces to take advantage of event organisers’ increasing appetite for venues that offer more than four walls, writes Sheridan Randall.

It is no secret that Australians love their sport, with many now able to get closer to the hallowed grounds of their favourite sport, whether it is cricket, footie or horse racing, on non-game days.

The Australian Turf Club (ATC) has been capitalising on our sporting passion by offering multi-purpose facilities across its four venues throughout Sydney – Royal Randwick, Rosehill Gardens, Canterbury Park and Warwick Farm.

“Following the closure of Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre (SCEC) and with the shortage of inventory located in or near the CBD, more and more event organisers are being creative in staging events and finding suitable venue space in Greater Sydney,” says Darwyn Jolly, general manager sales at ATC. “Rosehill Gardens in particular has benefitted from SCEC’s closure by securing a number of conferences from both the

association and corporate markets where they also use the neighbouring hotels for overnight accommodation, boosting the local economy.

Rosehill is also demonstrating diversity in its venues, appealing to international clients with incentive bookings and events such as the Sydney Manga and Anime Show (SMASH!), which has been secured for the next three years.”

held in the Grandstand with the Kennedy Awards (NSW Journalism), NSW Institute of Sports and NSW Tourism Awards, just to name a few,” says Jolly.

“More and more event organisers are being creative in staging events.”

Royal Randwick has also capitalised on its early success following last year’s $150 million development, with the iconic racecourse quickly establishing itself as one of Sydney’s premier events destinations.

“There’s been a significant increase in award dinners including our very first event

“Randwick’s very first luxury bridal expo made great use of our exhibition and event space as well as the stylish lounges on level one for VIP and premium hospitality. A construction company staged a cocktail Christmas party for around 2500 guests in the Kensington Room – our largest single indoor event.

“The association market enjoys staging multi-day conferences and takes advantage of the neighbouring corporate suites positioned across two floors for smaller break outs and free parking for their delegates.”

20 Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is looking forward to a busy year at its new event spaces following the completion of the Noble Bradman stand, with areas such as the Noble Dining Room set to offer a new level of quality and versatility at the renowned sporting grounds.

SCG Events is celebrating the launch of their latest event spaces with an official party in July. In the meantime bookings are going very well, according to SCG sales manager Susan Le Roux, with clients “enjoying being amongst the first to utilise Sydney's newest event space”.

“The type of event that is working very well is the two- to three-day conference,” she adds. “Clients are looking for one large plenary space for up to 600 banquet-style or 480 cabaret, have ample room for exhibitions and registration, morning tea, a networking lunch and afternoon tea in the Brewers Pavilion or in the sunshine on

From left, opposite page: the Alice Springs Turf Club; the MCG’s Southern Stand; the SCG’s Brewers Pavilion; Amway India at MCG.

level one. This can be followed by welcome drinks up on the Skyline Terrace with captivating views of the CBD.” Melbourne is another city in Australia that takes its horse racing seriously, with Flemington Racecourse the home of the Melbourne Cup. Organisers don’t need to wait until the Cup Carnival to enjoy the action, with Flemington’s Event Centre offering a variety of event spaces and numerous breakout rooms for conferences, meetings,

product launches, trade shows and exhibitions.

“Flemington is renowned on a local, national and global level, and this reputation translates into events,” says Frank Scifo, sales manager at Flemington – The Event Centre at Peter Rowland Catering.

“Through working in partnership with clients, we create event experiences which add value and set Flemington apart from other venues. From a gala dinner for over 1000 VIP

guests, to a national conference for an iconic beverage company featuring multiple brand activations, or a family fun day for over 2500 guests, Flemington provides a uniquely varied event landscape.”

The Atrium is Flemington’s largest space with a capacity for up to 2500 for cocktail events.

With moveable walls, in-built lighting bars, rigging points and four projection screens, organisers can also run parallel sessions, one main plenary

and a plenary alongside an exhibition, all with sweeping views over the racecourse and Melbourne skyline.

“Through exploring each client’s needs and requirements, there are pre and post function activities that we can recommend to add value to an event experience,” says Scifo.

“These may include corporate team building activities, such as ‘Hunt for the Cup’ which encourages guests to solve a mystery whilst exploring

ARE YOU STAYING AHEAD OF THE FIELD? With a backdrop of the famous grounds, switched on service by the renowned Peter Rowland Catering, a host of venue options and the latest technology you can make your next event a winner at Flemington.

Call 1300 783 872 for a complimentary event consultation for your next conference, seminar, exhibition or celebration or visit peterrowland.com.au for the latest corporate event ideas.

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 21

the historic grounds of the racecourse. Alternatively, the Heritage Centre enables guests to experience the legacy, heroes and events that have shaped the Melbourne Cup and Flemington Racecourse. Whilst there, guests may have their photograph taken with the Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy, a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience this internationally recognised symbol of Australasian racing.”

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is the largest stadium in Australia and the scene for countless sporting triumphs.

Event organisers can also take advantage of the stadium’s history with 29 function areas available.

Andrew Zurcas, marketing manager at Spotless Group, the parent group of MCG’s caterer Epicure, says the stadium “has a great reputation” with event organisers but still has “more to offer than they are aware of”.

“With 29 functions spaces, the MCG has the capability to host a variety of events,” he says.

“Epicure caters for anything from a private lunch for 10 people through to a welcome

reception for thousands.

There are meeting rooms with almighty views of the legendary arena and outdoor terraces that are great for unwinding in after a conference. Epicure is also happy to facilitate private tours of the ground or a stop into the National Sports Museum before or after an event.”

Room is Adelaide Oval’s flagship new events space catering up to 1200 guests for cocktail events.

For cricket tragics the Sheffield Shield Room, located on the ground floor of the Western Stand, is akin to heaven, with its display of South Australia’s cricketing heritage acting as a backdrop for events up to 40 cocktail-style.

In South Australia Adelaide Oval’s $535 million redevelopment is on track to be finished this year, with the stadium’s 23 purpose-built function spaces officially open for business. Overlooking the River Torrens, the William Magarey

“The response to our new offering has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly from the meetings and events industry with many impressed by the quality and diversity of what we have

Your ticket to world-class functions.

Sydney Cricket Ground’s newest event space: Noble Dining Room 600+ seated Skyline Terrace 1000+ cocktail The Plaza 2500+ cocktail Brewers Pavilion 100-600 cocktail Plus 20 other unique event spaces E functions@SCGevents.com.au T +61 (0) 2 9085 7738

22 Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

With a choice of over 29 different function spaces, the MCG suits a wide range of corporate and private events.

Only minutes from the Melbourne CBD, discover an extraordinary array of first class function spaces with exceptional facilities and breath-taking views.

T. +61 3 9284 2344 events@epicure.com.au epicure.com.au

From left, opposite page: Theatre of the Horse at Randwick Racecourse; Adelaide Oval; Flemington’s Event Centre; SCG's Skyline Terrace.

available,” says Adelaide Oval functions and events sales manager Shelagh Stanbridge.

of the Riverbank Precinct, which is also undergoing a massive redevelopment.

“We cater for everything from business meetings, product launches and seminars through to conferences in excess of 450 people. We are taking calls locally, from interstate and overseas and we have bookings as far out as 2016.”

“Adelaide is a fantastic location for business events, conferences and meetings and the Oval itself is perfectly located to make for a convenient and memorable experience for delegates,” says Stanbridge.

A new footbridge across the River Torrens that connects Adelaide Oval to the Adelaide Convention Centre has created a new events hub in the heart

“It’s close to the city and public transport as well as being walking distance from hotels, shops and restaurants. All this, combined with the state-ofthe-art new facilities we have

available at arguably the world’s most picturesque sporting ground is cementing the Adelaide Oval’s reputation as South Australia’s premier functions and events destination.”

Another sporting venue that is celebrating the launch of a new events space is the Alice Springs Turf Club, in the Northern Territory. A new 700sqm pillarless covered pavilion has been opened looking out across one of the most unique settings for a race track in Australia.

“It’s covered in but open air, which

is perfect for our climate here,” says Des Friedrich, chief executive of Alice Springs Turf Club.

Since opening, the new pavilion has hosted several Cup days, with over 300 people using the venue on each of them.

“With our location and the beautiful backdrop of the MacDonnell Ranges this is the perfect venue for people having conferences,” he says. “They get sick of four walls and no view.

They can come out here in the evenings, as it is warm. I think it’s pretty special.”

A UNIQUE VENUE COLLECTION Spectacular facilities across Sydney, ideal for every occasion Royal Randwick, Rosehill Gardens, Canterbury Park and Warwick Farm will impress delegates and guests with the spectacular surrounds of these unique venues and international cuisine prepared by awardwinning kitchens. With ample space and free parking at each venue, the Australian Turf Club is the perfect choice for your next corporate or social event.

Exterior Grand Pavilion, Rosehill Gardens

Grand Pavilion Level Two, Rosehill Gardens

Celebrate the first birthday of the new Queen Elizabeth II Grandstand at Royal Randwick!

Exclusive birthday offer!

Book a conference, launch or awards dinner between August and October to receive an Antler Business Garment Bag* for your next business travel, with our compliments!

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www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 23

PERTH

Left: the planned development at Elizabeth Quay.

Above: Perth's Bell Tower.

Room boom The mining boom may be cooling off in Western Australia but Perth itself is a hive of activity with plenty of money being thrown at public infrastructure development and the accommodation sector, writes Sheridan Randall.

Perth’s hotel scene has been groaning at the seams when it comes to capacity, much to their owner’s delight no doubt.

It is no wonder that high room rates and record occupancy rates have seen new names enter the fray.

Hotel occupancies are expected to keep increasing and will reach 86.3 per cent by the year ending December 2015, according to Tourism Western Australia, with room rates “expected to continue to grow strongly, increasing at an average rate of 9.3 per cent per annum over the next three years”.

Around $600 million worth of new hotel rooms – that’s around another 2000 new hotel rooms on top of the city's existing 9000 rooms – are slated for Perth over the next few years with some big names set to make their debut.

Marriott is to open a RitzCarlton in Perth’s new Elizabeth Quay development

in 2018. Hilton Worldwide has signed two new-build hotels in Perth and Fremantle. The 241-room DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Waterfront, set to open in 2016, will be located on Riverside Drive, overlooking the Swan River. In Fremantle, a 150-room hotel will be located on Point Street, and is expected to open in 2017.

Hilton Worldwide’s operations vice president – Australasia, Ashley Spencer, says that the accommodation sector in Perth “has been strong for years”.

“The destination is pulling in some nice occupancies and rates, and we shouldn’t see that changing anytime soon” he says.

Starwood’s Aloft brand is set to debut in Australia with the 2016 opening of Aloft Perth Rivervale featuring 224 loft-like rooms and 550sqm of meeting space and additional rooftop function space. Starwood’s The Westin brand will also enter the

Western Australian market in 2017, with the 350-room Westin Perth to be located in the CBD offering 350 rooms, as well as more than 1000sqm of meeting space which will be comprised of a 800sqm ballroom and 340sqm of dividable function facilities.

“The Westin Perth will meet the growing need for high end accommodation in this dynamic city, which has the highest occupancies and average daily rates in the country,” says Andrew Taylor, director, acquisitions and development, Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

Accor is also joining the party with a new build Ibis Styles East Perth planned for July 2015. The 228-room hotel will feature a restaurant and bar, a meeting room, business corner and gymnasium.

“The economy sector is rapidly changing in Australia with our economy hotel product becoming vastly different from

24 Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

where it was a decade ago,” says Accor chief operating officer Simon McGrath.

“Ibis Styles East Perth will respond to the growing demand for quality product at a genuine economy price and it will cater to the increasing number of travellers seeking wallet-friendly travel experiences.”

Australian Hotels Association WA chief executive Bradley Woods says the new hotels are a tick of confidence for the WA economy.

“Perth is fast becoming an exciting international destination and is already offering world-class amenities, hotel accommodation and food and beverage offerings,” Woods says.

Perth’s more established hotels are also upping their game, with 6-star Crown Towers slated to open in 2016 and Rendezvous Hotel Perth Scarborough unveiling a

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Island castaway Lying off the coast of Perth Rottnest Island, or Wadjemup, was first known as an island of spirits by the Noongar people who viewed it from the mainland.

Now a must-see tourist attraction, Rottnest’s warm waters and limestone reefs are teaming with aquatic life, so bring your bathers.

Historic sites of the former penal colony and historic shipwrecks add to the experience.

Sunset at the Cott Watching the sunset over Perth’s most iconic beach, Cottesloe, is a must for visitors and locals alike.

Sit on the grassy bank with some fish and chips or dine in style at Indiana, which overlooks the white sand. refurbishment at a ceremony attended by WA Premier Colin Barnett. The refurb featured a new club lounge on the 25th floor, new dining venues include Straits Café and the Lobby Bar, and 24 new event spaces, making the property one of the largest beachside conference and event venues in the State.

“The relaunch of the hotel alongside the redevelopment of the Esplanade’s frontage will

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help to re-establish Scarborough as a vibrant destination for visitors and locals alike,” says Rachel Argaman, chief executive of the hotel’s parent group Toga Far East Hotels.

Scarborough itself is also currently undergoing a $30 million facelift, aimed at transforming it into one of the nation’s best beachfront destinations with new restaurants, cafes, shops and entertainment.

South of Perth’s city centre, Fremantle offers “an attractive alternative to the hustle and bustle of the CBD”, says Abby McDowell, marketing and promotions manager at Esplanade Hotel Fremantle – by Rydges, which is among the largest conference hotels in the city, offering 13 event spaces catering for up to 1000 delegates.

“Fremantle is rich in history, culture and tradition,” McDowell says. “The hotel is located in the heart of Fremantle with easy walking access to major tourist attractions such as the famous Fremantle markets, museums, art galleries, fishing boat harbour, beaches, unique shops, nightlife, restaurants and bars, and all with a wide variety of options available to delegates to enjoy the history of WA in popular locations such as Little Creatures Brewery, the Fremantle Prison and the WA Maritime Museum to name a few.”

McDowell downplays the cooling off in the mining sector, saying they are “still operating and still have need

26 Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

for conferences”.

“We have seen a promising uplift in medical and association type events that in the future will stimulate growth in sectors that may not have been this way before,” she adds.

In the CBD, Pan Pacific Perth has “seen growth in bookings and inquiries from across the associations sector”, according to the hotel’s director of sales and marketing, Glenn Shoebridge.

“The Australian economy has certainly reaped the benefits of a very healthy resources sector and business events is just one of the many markets that has seen the positive ripple effect over the past few years,” he says. “As the resources sector eases, we’re noticing a shift in our clients’ business needs. Notably the planning lead times have reduced, particularly with two or three day multi-room events.”

Perth’s ongoing investment in its public infrastructure is also set to reap rewards, according to Shoebridge.

“For Pan Pacific Perth, we are nearby the major developments and urban renewal already underway, so it in turn opens many more business opportunities for our hotel across business meetings, dining and of course our fivestar accommodation,” he adds.

The attractiveness of Perth for hotel operators comes as no surprise for the Perth Convention Bureau (PCB),

Wine time You don’t have to go to Margaret River to sample some of WA’s finest wines, with the Swan Valley just a 30 minute drive from Perth’s CBD. Sandalford and Olive Farm Wines are two of the oldest cellar doors in the region, but there are plenty of smaller wineries to keep connoisseurs happy.

which is set to achieve its annual target of attracting of $104 million worth of direct delegate expenditure this year, an increase of $2 million on 2012/2013. This also means a slight increase in the number of delegates visiting the state in 2014/2015 compared with the previous year, at 60,655.

With Tourism Australia research finding that safety, ease of doing business coupled with Australia’s food and wine offering and natural landscape being major drawcards for international business events, it is little wonder that Perth strikes a chord, particularly with Indonesia, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan.

“Perth offers it all in one place – natural beauty, clear blue skies, a Mediterranean climate, it’s a safe city to explore, it is clean and produces quality wines and fresh food,” says Sue Stepatschuk, PCB’s director of marketing.

“We are located on the west coast of Australia only three hours flying time to Indonesia the fourth biggest country in the world and fourth biggest population in the world. Perth is five hours flying time closer than the east coast of Australia to 50 major international destinations such as Dubai, Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Delhi, Moscow, Rome, London, New York, Amsterdam and Paris.”

The State’s economic prowess is a major drawcard for Perth.

If WA were a separate country it would be in the top 50

economies in the world by gross domestic product (GDP), with the state contributing more than 46 per cent of Australia's exports, and 16 per cent of the Australian GDP, the most out of all states.

“We are booming with over $221 billion currently planned investment into infrastructure from government and private enterprise,” says Stepatschuk.

New development Elizabeth Quay has moved into delivery phase, with the public realm around the waterfront inlet set for public use in spring 2015.

Works to deliver the Perth City Link are well underway, which running east-west across the heart of Perth’s city centre, will reconnect the CBD with Northbridge for the first time in 100 years. Chinatown in Northbridge is also undergoing a $2 million major facelift.

A three-year $700 million program to overhaul Perth Airport is partially complete which will include upgrading terminals to handle the Airbus A380 and building a new “fly in, fly out” terminal dedicated to workers heading from Perth to the State’s resource-rich north-west. A planned rail line between the Perth main station and Perth airport, called the Forrestfield-Airport Link (FAL), is also in being muted.

Meet the locals at your next conference Western Australia (WA) is a highly sought after destination that is easily accessible through direct flights offering exotic landscapes, an enviable climate, culture and history. Perth city is brimming with life and is full of world class eateries and night life. It is different; unique; beautiful; safe; clean and modern, yet not congested. It is a multi cultural society that is politically stable and progressive.

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“[These are] very exciting times in Perth with all of these projects underway,” says Stepatschuk.

“We have evolved into a vibrant, progressive, multicultural, exciting and interesting city.” www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 27

TNQ

Left: Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey (centre) at ATE14.

Below: host city Cairns.

Flying start With Tropical North Queensland (TNQ) being the first regional destination to host ATE2014, it was all about pulling together, writes Sheridan Randall.

It’s all about collaboration in Tropical North Queensland (TNQ). That was the key factor in winning the Australian Tourism Exchange 2014 (ATE14) for Cairns in May, according to Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ). Collaboration involving three tiers of government, destination marketing organisations and a broad cross section of the community resulted in TNQ becoming

the first regional destination to host ATE, which this year saw 1800 delegates descend on the region for the southern hemisphere’s largest tourism trade show.

“ATE14 will stand out from previous events as the first to involve a whole of community response,” says TTNQ chief executive Alex de Waal. “Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth cannot galvanise the community the

way we have into focusing on this one event.

“This ATE involves so many firsts, including a community engagement commercial, three community competitions, and a community event staged to thank the locals for their support of ATE. The community engagement we have achieved for ATE has set a benchmark for the future and proves that Cairns is big enough to put on a great show,

Leave your delegates speechless in Tropical North Queensland with: World class infrastructure Diverse offsite venues Exciting activity options Warm tropical climate

28 Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

Carnivale at Port Douglas

5-star luxury at Palm Cove

Port Douglas served up a feast of culinary delights for visitors in May as part of the Port Douglas Carnivale 2014 with its signature event, the Longest Lunch at the Sheraton Mirage Resort, showcasing some of the region’s finest produce. The 10-day festival marked its 20th anniversary in 2014 with a record attendance and sell-out events.

that delegates would leave with fabulous memories and experiences of our region.”

but small enough to care about it.”

Cairns Convention Centre hosted the event, adding 4000sqm of temporary exhibition space to the main building to cope with the numbers.

“Providing services such as catering, audio-visual, wi-fi, cleaning and event management to such a large space was a first for the Centre,” says Cairns Convention Centre general manager Ross Steele, who adds that feedback following the event has been “outstanding”.

“ATE was a very important event for Cairns and our region as we had 600 key tourism buyers from throughout the world experiencing our destination. The whole of the Cairns community came together to ensure

C

A I R N S

Earlier this year, Lancemore Group took over the management of the Angsana Great Barrier Reef Resort and Spa in Palm Cove. Now called Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore, the property was also given a million dollar refurbishment, with local restaurant NuNu’s taking over the hotel’s dining room. Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore is the only 5-star resort in Palm Cove that offers absolute beachfront access.

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Rosie Douglas, director of business and tourism events at Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef, says that a lot of people doubted that ATE could be held in a regional location “but we proved that wasn’t the case”.

also got to sample Port Douglas and Palm Cove through both day and multi-day familiarisations, an opportunity Douglas describes as “invaluable”.

A North Asia showcase by the region in April was also a great opportunity to promote TNQ to new markets

“From a business events perspective it was very important as it demonstrated what the region was capable of,” she says.

“We demonstrated that we can do offsite events effectively, with both the welcome and farewell events held in the same location but presented very differently and using two local catering companies.”

“The Korean market is a challenge due to flight access and until that changes I don’t see any growth out of that market,” says Douglas. “Linking the China component to Australia week in China gave the showcase a lot more credibility with the Chinese agents and corporates. I had some good meetings with corporate clients with some good opportunities coming out of it.”

Over 400 key international wholesalers

It has been full steam ahead in Port

O N V E N T I O N

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E N T R E

Consider Cairns for your next meeting…

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

Serious Business in Australia’s Most Stunning Location www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 29

Douglas, with “strong group business leading the charge for the region this year starting with pleasing growth in the incentive sector particularly from the US”, says Tara Bennett, Tourism Port Douglas & Daintree’s executive officer.

New Indigenous experiences on offer at Tjapukai Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park has unveiled new Indigenous cultural experiences as it undergoes a $12 million transformation into a versatile all-weather venue. Cutting edge theatre technology and open plan glass design to showcase the park's beautiful rainforest surrounds are among the highlights of the redevelopment due to open early 2015. Two state of the art theatre spaces, History and Hero's walk, restaurant and outdoor bar will complement the interactive Cultural Village.

“The easing Australian dollar coupled with growth in corporate travel has been the key to the growth,” she says.

“Port Douglas Incentives (PDI) continued to heavily market the region during the GFC so we were well positioned once business travel began to grow on the past 18 months.”

MAJOR SPONSORS

Megan Bell, group manager for media, incentives and charters for the Quicksilver Group, says the organisation was also seeing good growth with April through to June looking very positive.

“Bookings are still coming in closer to the date of travel, which is certainly different to previous years but we are seeing good growth from the Australian market and also a return of the American market, which is great,” says Bell.

“The community engagement we have achieved for ATE has set a benchmark for the future.”

Natalie Johnson, chair of PDI and managing director of Flames of the Forest, says that the start to this year has been “better than I have seen for many years”.

The surge in interest in Port Douglas coincided with PDI, with the support of Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree, launching a new interactive website earlier this year.

“We were delighted to welcome over 1200 North American incentive visitors over February, March and April which is a sensational start to the year,” she says.

“In this industry it is important to keep everything as fresh as possible,” Johnson says. “People like to see up to date content including photographs, information and in particular what capacities are in the region.

We wanted to make the site clean and fresh, with a focus on big, beautiful photos which showcase our stunning destination.”

“This is incredible considering where we were just two years ago. We are definitely seeing the effect that the lowering of the Australian dollar is having with our traditional

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30 Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

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ALICE SPRINGS

Left: Simpson's Gap. Below: quad biking at Undoolya Station.

Near and far

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Featured in film and literature Alice Springs has held a strong grip on Australia’s imagination. Now this small town is inspiring groups of another kind when they come for meetings and conferences, discovers Sheridan Randall.

Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory, hovers on the horizon of the Australian psyche like a heat induced mirage – both near and far simultaneously. Locals joke that Alice Springs is the closest town to every beach in Australia. Once the smile has faded, the truth of the statement becomes apparent. It is. Water, or the lack of it, plays an important part in the Alice Springs way of life. Rivers that run bone dry for years sit alongside the fact that per capita Alice Springs uses more water than anywhere else in Australia. Not from the skies, this water comes from deep underground.

But it is from the sky that visitors get their first sense of the vastness of the land in which Alice Springs lies. From high, the red earth and green scrub looks like a dot painting. For a group of event organisers from Melbourne and Sydney, the first literal taste of Alice Springs was at Tali Restaurant in Lasseters Hotel. The hotel sits alongside Alice Springs Convention Centre, and is undergoing a $35 million redevelopment that includes a new reception separate from the casino.

A traditional welcome on Anzac Hill by Arrernte guide Kumalie Riley followed by a leisurely bicycle ride, courtesy of Outback Cycling, along the dry Todd River to the Alice Springs Telegraph Station was the perfect way for the group to get their bearings. A brief team activity gave everyone a taste

of the iconic Henley on Todd Regatta, the world’s only dry regatta. Holding makeshift boats, teams raced each other across the dry sandy bed working up an appetite for the al-fresco dinner served under the stars in the historic grounds of the old Telegraph Station. Lulled into a suitably relaxed mood by guitarist and singer Sally Balfour, the group stargazed with Tom from Earth Sanctuary World Nature Centre before the crack of a bullwhip signalled a return to land.

It was line dancing time.

Day two, the group were given a tour of Purple House, which explained its vital role in giving remote Indigenous communities lifesaving access to dialysis. A tour of Standley Chasm and Simpsons Gap showed how both locations can be used as spectacular backdrops for banquet dinners.

The red sand was replaced by the refined calm of Doubletree by Hilton Alice Springs, where a cocktail making masterclass by inhouse mixologist Nathan and the infectious enthusiasm of the Indigenous kids in Drum Atweme set the mood for the poolside dinner.

Seeing the sun rise over the West MacDonnell Ranges while flying in a hot air balloon under the assured hand of Outback Ballooning was a spectacular start to day three. Freshly cooked crepes in the peaceful surrounds of Muk Muk Fine Art Gallery maintained the Zen-like calm of the group.

A tour of Alice Springs Desert Park gave

some further insight into the landscape, while lunch at Chifley Alice Springs Resort recharged the batteries for the next stage of the unfolding adventure – quad-biking.

Helmeted up and under the firm hand of Outback Quad Adventures guide “Frosty” the group tore up the tracks on the oldest working cattle station in the NT, Undoolya.

For those who wanted to get a real taste of outback racing Frosty gave brief but jaw dropping rides in a Polaris 4WD (see video).

A day of such adventure would need a suitably awe-inspiring finale, with dinner at The Quarry, hosted by Danny and Leeann Scholz of Tailormade Tours, hitting the mark perfectly. Spectacular thunder clouds rolling in the distance, damper making lessons, outback tales and didgeridoo playing with Andrew Langford combined with 5-star dining resulted in a night never to be forgotten.

A farewell breakfast, with a talk by the local Redtails Football Club, and a tour of the Alice Springs Turf Club marked a reluctant end to what had been a remarkable three days.

Alice Springs is a small town by any measure, but the landscape and the people that make it their own leave an impact that is felt long after the trip ends.

Sheridan Randall was hosted by the Northern Territory Convention Bureau.

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 31

COCKTAILS & CANAPÉS

Left: tray service at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Below: Laissez-Faire Catering’s baked ricotta tartlet. Opposite page: catering from MCEC. Photo by Rasha Photography.

A trend to watch With reality television turning chefs into rock stars and cooking into entertainment, interactive food stations are the latest trend for cocktail functions, writes Ylla Watkins.

With the hospitality industry and Australian public alike embracing the concept of the “pop-up” venue, it’s perhaps no surprise that the idea has been adapted for functions, with food stations supplementing traditional tray service at many cocktail-style events.

Serving everything from steamed dumplings and Peking duck pancakes to paella, pulled pork sliders, freshly shucked oysters and house-cured charcuterie, food stations offer patrons the chance to graze their way around a room while interacting with fellow guests and chefs.

“We do a lot of pop-up cooking stations now,” confirms Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s executive chef, Tony Panetta. “People have become more aware, with all the television cooking shows that are

on, and their expectations are higher.

“Guests enjoy interacting with our chefs, and they’re asking us more questions, which actually slows the line quite a bit. It’s a balancing act to give it the personal touch but also service the 2000 people or whatever it is at that event.

“We’ve invested heavily in the shelves and structures, and what we serve from them changes with the demographic of the people we’re serving.”

Martin Latter, executive chef of Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, believes the trend is part of a larger evolution of function food.

“Function food used to be very bland and simple but it’s evolved over the years, especially in convention centres where it

32 Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

is now some of the best in the world,” he says. “We now have access to some of the best ingredients and technology available to produce some of the best quality cuisine going.

“At the same time people are better educated about where the products come from. People want to talk to chefs for their expertise; to find out how the product is delivered, where it comes from and the flavours.”

While there will always be a place for tray service, combining it with a selection of food stations offers guests greater choice.

“It’s very important to the mix right,” Latter says. “People want to come up to food stations and graze but also people want to have tray service come to them.”

For Clinton Brown, executive chef of Sydneybased Laissez-Faire Catering, which caters

What’s hot in canapés?

“Even though they get consumed quite quickly, the impression I’m getting is that people are over sliders and burgers. I’m still selling a few but people are moving away from that towards fresher, lighter items. People order the sliders because they’re quite filling and they go with the alcohol. You have to have the starchier, heavier items at some point.”

Clinton Brown

for events at a stable of venues including the Australian Technology Park Conference Centre, the State Library of NSW and the Australian National Maritime Museum, food stations are ideal for supplementing hot and canapés with more substantial items.

“You might have four hot canapés, four cold canapés, and a couple of food stations serving more substantial items,” he says.

“People are interested in a lot more healthier items and more local, seasonal produce. Every year we change our menu and a lot of that comes from feedback from our guests and clients and also what’s happening, not just here in Australia, but around the world.”

Martin Latter

It’s important to know the demographic of the event, he adds. Chances are that a room full of young men is likely to appreciate different choices, and in different quantities, to a largely female crowd.

“A client might pick eight choices, but say let’s go heavier on the pies and burgers, for instance, and back off on something that might be a little less popular, like rice paper rolls,” he says.

“There’s more of a focus on regional food, and food from smaller countries around the world, whether it’s Peru or somewhere in Eastern Europe. We’re getting more requests for specific nationalities as well.”

Tony Panetta

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www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 33

GCCEC

A decade to remember Celebrating its 10th anniversary this month, the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre has become one of Australia’s preferred destinations for business events, and it’s all thanks to the tireless team who make it happen from behind-the-scenes, discovers Ylla Wright.

The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre is located in the heart of the Gold Coast.

The Gold Coast has long been known as one of Australia’s premier leisure destinations but it’s arguably only been in the decade since the opening of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) in June 2004 that the region has cemented its position as one of Australia’s most successful business events destinations.

Heralded as marking “a new era in conventions and events”,

with an average of 160 business events generating 350,000 delegate days annually, with a high ratio of repeat clientele.

the Centre, increased the region’s event capacity six-fold, offering 7000sqm of exhibition capacity. Growing demand saw a $40 million extension, which saw two new exhibition halls added to the Centre’s facilities, increasing exhibition space to 10,000sqm, completed in 2009.

Ten years after opening GCCEC continues to attract high profile national and international events providing the region

Since opening the Centre has hosted more than 2000 events and welcomed more than two million guests, injecting approximately $1.6 billion into the local economy.

While the Centre can boast

Watch the video in the CIM iPad app.

34 Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

Left: a trade exhibition at GCCEC. Below: a view of the GCCEC.

more than 25 industry awards to date, and the honour of being the first convention centre in the world to achieve EarthCheck Gold certification, general manager Adrienne Reading says it’s the Centre’s team that sets it apart from its competitors.

standing customers are some of my dearest friends. And that’s what it’s all about.”

“Our platform right now is ‘love is in the detail’,” she says. “It’s those little details that make the difference. Whether it’s going to Office Works to buy [the client] something they’ve forgotten to bring from Sydney or something else. They know that we’ll support them; it doesn’t stop at the front door. Some of our long

The first female to be appointed to the role of general manager of a convention centre in Australia in 2002, Reading oversaw not only the construction of the building, but also a number of management and marketing initiatives designed to ensure the GCCEC opened with the support of the local community

Remarkably, 27 of the original 130 team members, including Reading herself, are still onboard 10 years after the Centre’s opening.

and bookings in hand.

“We wanted the Gold Coast to take ownership of the building and be proud of this beautiful establishment, so we came up with what we called ‘Gold Coast on Show’,” she recalls.

“It ran over two days, a Saturday and Sunday, and we opened it up to the public. We had 100,000 visitors over the two days. It was an opportunity for the public to come in and say wow, this is ours.”

The Centre was just as well received by clients, with many of those who held events there in those early days still with the

Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre timeline

Photo by Glenn Hampson/Newspix.

2002

4 4 4 4

2004

4 4 4 4 4 4 4

February

August

June

Works starts on the Centre after a Ground Breaking ceremony taking place on February 8.

Adrienne Readings makes history as the first female to be appointed general manager of a convention centre in Australia.

The GCCEC is officially opened on June 29 by then-Premier Peter Beattie.

The opening ceremony was beamed into the homes of more than three million Chinese viewers by the New Tang Dynasty Television network who said the landmark building’s opening was not to be missed.

The GCCEC welcomed more than 105,000 visitors through its doors to tour the facility during its opening weekend.

The Opening Gala dinner of the GCCEC is named Event of the Year at the 2004 Meetings and Events Australia Awards.

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 35

Centre (60 per cent of events are repeat business) “Our first client is still with us,” says Reading. “It was IGA, the independent grocers, who are known as Metcash. They were looking at the Gold Coast but couldn’t have [their event here] because it didn’t have large enough facilities. I remember the organiser, Neil, contacted me because a taxi driver had

2005

4

2007

told him that we were getting a convention centre. At that stage we hadn’t even set up the sales department.”

Another original staff member is Raelene Barry, who as the Centre’s executive manager of human resources has had a hand in hiring most of the Centre’s staff since 2004. She puts the fact that so many staff have stayed the distance down

4 4 4 4

June GCCEC celebrates its first anniversary.

In its first year of operation the Centre hosted more than 200 events, welcoming 251,000 visitors and injecting $160 million into the local economy.

2009

to the organisation’s culture.

“When I reflect on the culture of GCEC family is a word that often used,” she says. “People who have been here a week will describe us as a family; people who have been 10 years describe us a family; and I find that it even comes up in job interviews where we describe ourselves as a family.

“It’s nice but, as with all families,

4 4

2010

4 4

January Work starts on the Centre’s Stage 2 Extension, worth $40 million.

GCCEC welcomes its largest event to date, the Amway Greater China Seminar, which attracted 7800 delegates.

36 Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

GCCEC reveals its extension, including two new exhibition halls, three meeting rooms and three new kitchens. The extension doubled GCCEC’s exhibition space to 6000sqm, providing a total exhibition capacity of 10,000sqm. The Centre can now accommodate over 3500 diners banquet-style, conventions of up to 6000 delegates and exhibition space for more than 500 booths.

GCCEC was inducted into the Meetings and Events Australia Hall of Fame after winning the National Meeting Venue – 500 delegates or more award for three consecutive years in 2007, 2008, 2009.

4

From left, opposite page: delegates arrive for the Supanova expo; the Centre plays host to a Mumford & Sons concert; a winter-themed gala dinner set up; the original GCCEC team during the Centre’s construction.

we fight. We fight in the most loving and kind way because the end result is always spectacular and the client is always happy.

It’s a pretty cool family.”

For assistant floor manager Candace Rossell, who met her husband Wade Rossell when they both joined the pre-opening team at the Centre, the relationships she has formed at the Centre are

2012

4 4

The Centre introduces an in-house audio visual department and free wi-fi capable of supporting up to 3000 concurrent users.

one of the reasons she has no intention of moving on.

it’s not often that people get on so well.”

“There are three reasons I love working at the Centre,” she says. “First I met my husband here, and that’s an amazing story that we live and work together. The second thing is the diversity of the events here; no two events are the same.

And I really love working with all the people that work here;

Like many of the staff at GCCEC Rossell has plenty of stories to tell about working at the Centre, from the time the chefs served gravy with dessert instead of chocolate sauce, to the floor manager who crashed a Segway into a vending machine in the foyer during a staff briefing.

2013

4

GCCEC is the first convention centre in the world to attain EarthCheck Gold certification, cementing its green credentials.

Reading herself tries to take time out from her day-to-day activities to work alongside operations staff and listen to their feedback when she can.

“I have been [at the Centre] for a long time, and it’s not just about bricks and mortar to me; it’s about the people that work here,” she says. “That’s passed on to our customers; they see that as well.”

June 2014 GCCEC celebrates its 10th anniversary.

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 37

Photos by Adam Head/Newspix; David Clark/Newspix; Micheal Ross/Newspix.

All in the details Located at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast, construction of the GCCEC site involved the re-alignment of Little Tallebudgera Creek and placement of 110,000 cubic metres of dredged fill material for this site. The original building used 26,000 cubic metres of concrete, enough to fill 14 Olympic swimming pools, 1250 tonnes of structural steel, and 20,000sqm of carpet.

Food for thought • Approximately 80,000 meals were served in the first year of operation alone; in the first five years more than one million meals were served.

• The menu for the Amway Greater China Seminar’s gala dinner in 2007 saw the Centre purchase 7200 similarly sized lobsters. This event virtually wiped out the availability of lobster throughout Australia and the Pacific region.

• On average the Centre goes through one tonne of coffee beans, 22,000 litres of milk and 740,000 tea bags a year.

• The Centre goes through one tonne of individually wrapped Mentos mints annually.

• During a recent 2000 person three-day pharmaceutical conference, delegates consumed 2.2 tonnes of protein, consisting of 1000kg of chicken, 750kg of beef, 170kg pork, 140kg of lamb and 200kg of seafood.

• On average the Centre consumes more than 61,000 litres of soft drinks and bottled water a year.

Keep delegates fresh no matter how long your event.

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38 Convention & Incentive ARM0582 Tic Tac CIM_60x210.indd 1 Marketing, June 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

19/03/14 11:16 AM

The changing face of business events With more than 10 years at the GCCEC under her belt, Centre general manager Adrienne Reading has been heavily involved in developing and growing the Gold Coast as a business events destination.

We ask how she’s seen the business events industry change in the last decade: “When I began the journey leisure was the focus, particularly here on the Gold Coast. People have over the years realised the value of business events.

There’s a lot more competition, and there’s a lot more lobbying for government funding, that type of thing.

“It’s not just about relationships anymore. I think it’s more about the bottom line, in terms of what can you do for me. For me, it’s about understanding the customer’s objectives. What are they trying to achieve through business events? I still think that far outweighs the bottom line. When you start cut costing, you start chopping away at service. You have to, because it costs so much.

“The other main difference is the style of food, and the service that comes with that food, has really changed. The benchmark has been lifted and Australia punches well above its weight. Convention centres as a whole have really lifted their food and service to a five-star level.”

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 39

IT&CM CHINA

Growth market With China’s business events market growing at 20 per cent annually, suppliers are looking to Shanghai-based tradeshow IT&CM China to help put them in touch with buyers, writes Ylla Watkins.

The rapid expansion of China’s business conference and incentive market continues to draw more international companies to target the growing industry, according to the organisers of annual business events expo IT&CM China (Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings). With the 2011 Global Meetings Procurement Agency HelmsBriscoe report finding the value of China’s conference and events industry was estimated to be US$150 billion, with tens of millions of conferences held every year, the Chinese market represents big business.

“The Chinese MICE industry is burgeoning at 20 per cent annually, reflecting endless opportunities for both international domestic MICE suppliers alike,” says Darren Ng, managing director of co-organiser of the show, TTG Asia Media.

More than 12,000 meetings were held at this year's IT&CM China.

International interest in the growing Chinese market is reflected in the sucess of this year’s IT&CM China, held in Shangahi in April, which saw more than 154 new exhibitors join returning organisations for the opportunity to meet with

more than 600 mostly Chinese buyers, making it the largest turn out in its eight-year history.

education and networking sessions over the show’s three days.

Returning exhibitors such as Thailand Convention & Exhibtion Bureau (TCEB) report having seen business out of China steadily grow since the shows inception.

Highlights of the program included the “Association Professionals Competencies Briefing” for association executives, facilitated by Australasian Society of Association Executives and Canadian Society of Association Executives, that saw 20 participants learn best association management practices.

“China has become the number one source market of MICE travelers to Thailand since 2013, and with a constant growth of the Chinese economy we expect to welcome more business travellers and MICE visitors from China,” says Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, president of TCEB. Silversea Cruise’ regional director – Asia, Melvyn Yap, agrees: “China is now our second largest Asian source market, behind Japan. We believe it has the potential to grow even bigger, especially with the Chinese interest in our expedition product to the polar regions”.

The show’s organisers are keen to see the local market mature, introducing a number of initiatives aimed at improving local industry knowledge, and running more than 70 business,

40 Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

“Association Day” also returned for a second year, with educational sessions fronted by expert speakers from organisations including China Electrical Equipment Industry, China Nonprescription Medicines Association, Eventown Group, International Dragon Award (IDA) Executive Committee, and Meeting Professionals International (MPI).

Kicking off the program was a session entitled “Association Meetings in China: The Role of a PCO in Winning Business for China”, which addressed the importance of local Chinese PCOs in helping Chinese

associations collaborate with their international counterparts to bring meetings to China.

“The emergence of more professional PCOs strengthens China’s position as a MICE destination,” says speaker Alicia Yao, general manager of IME Consulting. “There are invaluable benefits that come with being a host destination of an association meeting. China is still a relatively new player in this industry. Collaborations with professional PCOs not only help to strengthen China’s position as a MICE destination, but also enable it to be on par with other experienced destinations vying for the same business.”

Chinese associations who wanted to learn how to organise large-scale association meetings outside of the country benefitted from Richard Wu’s session on “Learning from Success: Largescale Association Meetings”.

As the chairman of the IDA

Executive Committee, Wu had successfully organised the International Dragon Award Annual Conference last year.

“This session touched on the successful case study based on the 2013 International Dragon Award Annual Conference,” he says. “Since 1996, we have held our congress in 15 different cities and each year we faced different challenges. Delegates learnt how they can obtain strong support from the local government, how to adapt to the different cultures from all over the world, and how they can attract officials to attend their congress.”

With post-show feedback positive and statistics suggesting that 86 per cent of exhibitors expect to see orders from the show’s buyers over the next six to 12 months, resulting in around US$1 million worth of business, plans are already well underway for IT&CM China 2015.

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New venue for welcome reception IT&CM China 2014’s official Opening Ceremony and Welcome Dinner saw delegates experience Shanghai’s newest events venue, The River Mall, located within the Shanghai Expo arena, which officially opened on April 23.

“As an industry trendsetter, we wanted to inspire our delegates to consider alternative venues for their meetings and events,” says Jason Ng, co-organiser of the event, MP International Singapore’s executive director.

“The River Mall, being a brand new venue, enabled us to transform the grounds to achieve a refreshing Opening Ceremony format that also promotes the Shanghai Expo cityscape and Chinese culture.”

A highlight of the evening’s entertainment line-up was the spectacular Yang Drum Dance Clan, a traditional high tempo performance favoured for its auspicious symbolism that invokes high spirits and morale.

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Publication: CIM Size: 102 x 253mm Marketing, Job#:773-4073 June 2014 41 www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Run Date: June 2014

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VENUE UPDATE

Events upgrade for Centara Grand Mirage Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, Thailand, has added event butlers to its management staff to ensure that every meeting and event receives 24-hour service.

The resort, which is designed to a “Lost World” theme, is one of Thailand's premier venues for business events. It features a wide

choice of versatile meeting and function rooms, while the ballroom is one of the largest in Pattaya. Smaller rooms are available for seminars, meetings, presentations and receptions, as well as a ballroom garden terrace, beachside garden, roof garden, and poolside area.

News in brief QT Canberra members only QT Canberra has launched its exclusive invitation only lounge, the QT Lounge, set on the 15th floor of the newly revamped hotel. Members of the QT Lounge have been hand selected by QT Canberra with the aim of making the lounge an exclusive place of business for the highest-level influencers across industry, corporate sector, politics, government departments, embassies and media.

Sofitel’s 19th for China Sofitel has opened its 19th property in China with the launch of the Sofitel Legend People's Grand Hotel Xian, the first hotel in Greater China to join the hotel’s Legend Collection. The 71-room hotel features personalised butler service, an extensive garden setting, an authentic Italian restaurant, an exclusive top-floor Louis XIII Bar and a private museum.

42 Convention & Incentive Marketing, June 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

Relais & Chateaux expands to SA Relais & Chateaux has added five properties to its collection including its first hotel in South Australia, with the 15-suite vineyard retreat The Louise and its restaurant Appellation in the Barossa Valley. Other new additions can be found in the Maldives, Patagonia, Croatia and Italy.

The Playford Adelaide joins MGallery Collection MGallery, Accor’s collection of distinctive boutique hotels, has welcomed The Playford Adelaide as its eighth MGallery in Australia.

The hotel joins a number of nationally and internationally renowned hotels including The Reef House Resort & Spa Palm Cove and The Baltimore in Paris.

Centrally located on North Terrace, The Playford Hotel Adelaide is located within walking distance of Parliament and Government House, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the Adelaide Casino and Adelaide Festival Centre. The hotel’s famous breakfast draws on the region’s freshest produce presented in healthy combinations.

MV Epicure launches on the water MV Epicure has launched two MV Epicure luxury motor vessels on Sydney Harbour and the Brisbane River.

Flagship vessel MV Epicure Sydney has capacity for up to 450, and features several versatile spaces including an open-air sky deck. The Green Room is a versatile space ideal for events that require accommodation of speakers, entertainment and guests of honour.

A strong supporter of homegrown, environmentally sustainable produce, MV Epicure will tailor any event including conferences, launches and corporate breakfasts, from canapés to three course dinners.

New Abode for Parkroyal Parkroyal Darling Harbour, Sydney, has confirmed the June opening of restaurant Abode, the final stage of the multi-million dollar interior redesign that started in late 2012.

Abode will offer Sydney diners and hotel guests a modern bistro style restaurant and bar. The venue includes a lounge, sports bar and decking area, as well as stylish and modern dining room.

Crown Lanta targets conferences Thailand’s Crown Lanta Resort & Spa is set to improve its offering for the conference and meetings market by introducing a seamless Airport-Lanta transport service by car and boat until October 2014. Located near Krabi, the resort has a choice of villas rooms as well as a versatile function room for up to 80 guests and a choice of restaurants and bars.

Hayman Island’s One&Only One&Only Hayman Island will begin welcoming guests on July 1, 2014, following a multi-million dollar refurbishment. The resort, in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, has introduced new accommodation, including guest rooms, suites, villas and penthouses, and redesigned spaces.

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PROFILE

Head start Coming from multi-cultural South Africa is to set Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre’s new general manager, Alan Pryor, in good stead as he navigates the next decade in the cultural melting pot that is Malaysia, writes Sheridan Randall.

Alan Pryor has recently been appointed Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre’s (KLCC) new general manager following the retirement of Peter Brokenshire who grew the Centre from its launch in 2005 to become one of the most respected convention centres in the world.

Pryor, who joined the Centre in 2011 as deputy general manager, says that KLCC “has really achieved a lot” in a decade.

“We have been exceptionally lucky that a lot of our original staff are still with us,” Pryor says. “The staff here are very experienced and very loyal. The other thing we have been able to achieve is building up the infrastructure within Kuala Lumpur itself.”

Having just finished hosting the MEA2014 Conference, Pryor says that the Centre is “always looking at opportunities to bring Australian groups here”.

“With the MEA delegates, a lot of them are very pleasantly surprised at the experience here,” he says. “It is a valuable opportunity to showcase, not just what we can do, but what the city and Malaysia is.”

you are into food, which every Malaysian is, you have everything from fine dining to street food from the markets.”

The Centre has just announced an expansion to its meeting space that when completed in 2018 will make it the country’s largest exhibition space with 90,000sqm.

“At the moment we are just putting it out there that it [the Centre’s expansion] is happening,” he says. “Once we have a bit more knowledge from the design workshops we will move into full swing in terms of sales.”

Hailing from South Africa, and having started his career in the UK, Pryor’s global outlook is a valuable asset when it comes to leading KLCC into the next decade.

“This industry is very global,” he says. “You compete on a global scale and your client base is global so the more culturally sensitive and aware you are the better.

Describing Kuala Lumpur as “a hidden gem” Pryor says that “as you meet people who have come to KL for the first time they are usually amazed” by its cultural mix.

“I think the other big change that is happening in Malaysia now is the realisation of how important the MICE industry and business tourism is and how important it is to develop the infrastructure to service that industry. That has been a huge change. So everyone is working harder on working on the destination for the business tourist.

“Food here is important and it’s cross-cultural,” he adds. “You have the Malay, Indian and Chinese and a meeting doesn’t happen unless there is food there. It is a very important aspect of everyday life in Malaysia. If

“All in all we have had a great 10 years. Looking forward to the next decade [our goals] will be to maintain the Centre’s facilities, keep the team happy and motivated, and keep building the business.”

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MEETING PEOPLE

Warren Cullum has been appointed general manager of Australia’s first Tryp Hotel, which is set to open in July 2014, in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley. Cullum has worked extensively throughout Australia and in London with Toga and the Mantra Group.

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre have announced the appointment of Geoff Stephens as chief financial officer. He will join the venue from the Melbourne Cricket Club, where he has worked since 2002. Stephens has a further 10 years’ experience in a broad range of industries, including holding senior financial roles in advertising agencies and manufacturing.

Michelle Broadhurst has been appointed business events bid executive at Tourism New Zealand. She has been with Tourism New Zealand for five years working in the corporate strategy team and has also worked across the public and private sectors in the tourism industry.

The Association of Australian Convention Bureaux has announced that Michael Fuller will take on the newly created role of strategic communications manager. Fuller has extensive experience in marketing, communications and advocacy in the US, Europe and Australia.

Jillian Masters has been appointed to the newly created position of administration and accreditation manager with the Professional Conference Organisers Association. She has previously held various administration roles including office manager at the ACT Chief Ministers Department, ACT Centenary of Federation Celebrations.

Heritage Hotel Management has appointed Ana Vivas as the new resident manager of Heritage Christchurch.

Vivas has been resident manager at the Heritage Boutique Waterfront Suites Bay of Islands since 2012. She has worked in hotels in her home country of Mexico including Starwood Hotels and Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree (TPDD) have appointed Tara Bennett to the role of executive officer.

Bennett has worked for TPDD since 2007, most recently in the role of business development executive, where she headed up Port Douglas Incentives.

The Tourism Industry Association New Zealand has appointed Chris Roberts to the role of chief executive.

Roberts is currently general manager corporate affairs at Tourism New Zealand, a role he has held for two years. He will take up the new role in mid-July 2014.

Giovanna Lever has joined IHG as director of marketing for the InterContinental Sydney Double Bay. Lever comes to IHG from Tourism Australia, bringing with her expertise in marketing and delivering major and business events, as well as consumer tourism programs.

Wayne Lee has joined Cumberland Lorne Resort and Conference Centre as director of sales. Lee brings 20 years of experience in the sales, marketing and business events sectors to the role, having worked at Auckland Convention Centre, Tourism Australia – New Zealand, and most recently Business Events Victoria.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the appointment of Matthew Tripolone to the role of head of development, Australasia. Tripolone will be based at the company's Australian head office in Sydney where he will lead IHG's growth and development across its Australasia region.

Mike Pickford, executive director of ASN Events, has been elected as the new Victorian councillor of the PCO Association. He takes over from Suzanne Hart, who was a foundation councillor of the association and has served since 2007.

Lee Cooper has joined the Positively Wellington Venues team as a sales executive. Cooper has previously held sales and event management roles at Ohariu Farm, CMNZ Auckland and Te Papa.

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PCO ASSOCIATION

The future of event software: communication

As event management software functionality evolves so too does its role within the event itself, writes Michael Gill.

Initially event software was just a glorified set of spreadsheets, transposed from faxed registration forms and scribbled program drafts. It then evolved into the same set of spreadsheets with e-commerce and credit card processing tacked on. Over time event software has managed to streamline the process of the registration, taking of fees and controlling of budgets, but it is only now evolving to assist the most crucial part of managing an event, communication.

Our primary role as event managers is communicating information. Whether that is with delegates, speakers, committees, or within our own teams, if there are open lines of communication then the organisation of events happens with ease.

This is the future of event software: streamlining

communications within events. This communication comes in many forms and is bi-directional.

Email is the obvious medium to target. The next generation of software lets you quickly and easily identify and segment different groups of delegates and target them with specific messages, questions and information. In turn, they update their own records with the pertinent information, ensuring it is correct and relevant.

A perfect example is the question, “Are you sure you don’t want to come to the conference dinner?” In days gone by a quick email asking people this question would have created more work for the organiser than it was worth, updating records, re-sending invoices and ensuring payment was met. Yet, delegates truly appreciate the extra thought

and there’s no reason they shouldn’t be able to update their own records and pay.

Another example is the juggling act of putting speakers and abstracts into sessions and allocating times. This used to involve emailing a painstakingly crafted spreadsheet with all the reviews and scores around before a conference call, and then working your way slowly through the list hoping that no one on the programming committee lost their place or changed their mind. The solution of course is literally having everyone on the same page, which is updated as the conference call goes on, so each person can see exactly what has been decided.

Finally there is the weekly report of registration figures to the committee. In the past this might have happened

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on an ad-hoc basis – you receive a call from a committee member wondering how the registrations are going, or perhaps every Friday there is a mad rush to get the spreadsheets sent off. The next generation of software gives control back to the committee; it lets them log in and check the figures themselves.

This shift within events software is happening now.

At Currinda we are creating a platform that sits between all the stakeholders of an event and gives them all the information they need. We focus on enabling efficient lines of communication; this puts information in the hands of the right people, letting them focus on organising great events.

Michael Gill is general manager of Currinda and a consultant to the PCO Association.

Rise of the ‘mumpreneur’ In the past few years the English language has introduced words such as “she-conomy”, “mumpreneurs” and “womenonomics”, but is its not all smooth sailing for female business owners, writes Corinne Kemp.

Australia, along with other AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies, is seeing a rising tide in the number of female entrepreneurs.

Thanks to technology, education and the global village, women today own and run successful businesses in unprecedented numbers, across all industries.

Women represent the biggest consumer section of our economy and make 85 per cent of all consumer decisions. They are a vital source of growth that has a dramatic positive impact on the competitiveness and growth of our economy and our social and political platforms.

Women today seek increased flexibility and mobility in the workplace and are starting up new businesses in unmatched numbers in order to obtain the lifestyle they want and need; in 2010 more than 187 million new businesses were started by women in 53 countries.

Research confirms that for the first time university graduates are starting a business immediately after graduating and experienced, tertiary educated women are walking away from the corporate environment to start their own

business in unprecedented numbers.

There are now more women than men trading in Australia between the ages of 33-45, according to Australian Bureau of Statistic figures from October 2013. The majority are operating businesses in the professional, scientific and technical services sectors.

However, it’s not always smooth sailing for women business owners in Australia.

As chair of the Australian Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AWCCI), the national peak body for women business owners in Australia, and a PCO, I presented at last year's PCO Conference on some of the key findings of the National Research on Women Business Owners & Female Entrepreneurs.

The research reveals that there are a wide range of obstacles facing those women who choose to pursue new business opportunities – including difficulties accessing start-up capital, a lack of affordable childcare options, and obstacles in gaining access to government procurement.

Almost 70 per cent of women starting their own business do so by using their own savings, often with as little as $5000.

Many lack the knowledge and network to access investor capital or don’t have the confidence to take their business plan to a bank. A lack of startup capital often hampers their chances of success.

A lack of affordable and accessible childcare places is also a critical issue that has taken centre stage of late.

The research reveals that many women are spending three to four years on childcare waiting lists and we’re seeing an unprecedented increase in the number of women start up home-based businesses because they can’t access or afford childcare.

Among the solutions that was discussed at the PCO conference is the introduction of rebatable in-home care options. Such a system already operates in France, where the introduction of home-based childcare resulted in 80 per cent of mothers with one child, and 50 per cent with more than one child, returning to work.

The Chamber’s research also tells us that female procurement opportunities remain inhibited by restricted information on procurement guidelines and regulations, and limited knowledge of selection and bidding procedures.

Women are telling us that they struggle to access Government procurement processes and don’t have the resources to effectively compete in this area.

Whilst no data is currently available on how many federal or state Government contracts are awarded to women, the Chamber is working hard to lobby the Government to collect this data so that we can better understand what programs and policies would best support women business owners.

For more information on the work of the Chamber or how to join us, I encourage you to visit www.awcci.org.au.

Corinne Kemp is director of DKC Conference and Event Management, chair of the Australian Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a consultant to the PCO Association.

PCO ASSOCIATION NEWS Online learning programs win positive feedback The PCO Association has received positive responses and feedback to its online learning programs, says spokesman Peter Sugg.

The programs are offered to both members and non-members already in the

conference, meetings and events industry who need to update their skills.

meetings and events industry,” he says. “We have also had some world class presenters.”

“The webinars have proved popular because they offer a wide range of subjects, including one for new practitioners who want to learn more about the conference,

For more information on the PCO Association online learning programs contact the PCO Association at training@pco.asn.au

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