CIM May 2014 Issue

Print Post Approved PP231335/00018

MAY 2014

Shanghai aims high Indigenous experiences Geelong pulling together

Well connected Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau

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 TOU0093\CIM\TBWA

CONTENTS

14

On the cover

REGULARS

34

04 Publisher’s note

FEATURES

06 News 08 New Zealand news

Print Post Approved PP231335/00018

13 Q&A Tanya de Jong, Creative Universe 42 Venue update 44 Profile Tony Panetta, Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre

12 Cover story Malaysia on the rise 14 Canberra Take a fresh look 20 Geelong

24 Hunter region

45 Meeting people

A region to celebrate

A three way partnership pays off

26 Tasmania Not just for boutique events

46 PCO Association

08

30 Cultural experiences Opening up Indigenous Australia 34 Shanghai The shape of things to come

APRIL 2014

10 International news

Well positioned both geographically and economically, a boost in infrastructure investment is set to see Malaysia capitalise on its steady rise as one of the most popular meetings destinations in Asia.

Adelaide’s brain gain Centres of excellence Gold Coast gets connected CIM0414.indd 1

Big events Sydney Showground 3/04/2014 2:43 pm

To ensure you never miss out there are now more ways to enjoy CIM. As well as the monthly magazine, CIM is also available as a free iPad app, which is packed with exclusive extras. The CIM app is available at the iTunes app store.

Subscribe to the CIM iPad app

Don’t miss

36 Malaysia Expansion plans for the KLCC 38 Coming soon The Inspire Ex and Meetings

expos unveiled

40 Event report The 10th Australian Peptides

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.

Association Conference www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, May 2014 3

PUBLISHER’S WORD

How to get noticed I

talk to many people about publicity strategies and how to get press releases published. I try to explain what we, as publishers, are looking for to ensure our readers get the information they want.

At a presentation I gave on this subject last year I made mention of the large number of press releases we get about such things as new carpets and soft refurbishments in hotel rooms. Do you really think people will book a conference in a particular hotel because they’ve recently changed the carpet or put new sheets on the beds?, I asked.

Those kind of press releases are also the ones that get the least amount of attention when they arrive in our inboxes.

So, when a parcel arrived for me the other day that contained a piece of beautifully framed carpet with a plaque, I was really pleased to see the marketing team at Royal Pines Resort had taken on board my suggestions and turned it into a quirky gift. I now have a “little piece of history” from the resort and a press release I read from start to finish. Not only have the convention facilities in the resort had a refurb, they have opened a new day spa. The Grand Ballroom pre-function space has had an extension, new AV and lighting, and the main ballroom now has movable walls allowing the space to be divided into three.

I look forward to seeing the updated centre and I have to say that I, for one, am pretty glad they have changed the carpet – it really was pretty unattractive in a Ken Done sort of way.

Published in Australia by Creative Head Media Pty Ltd Suite 202, 80-84 Chandos Street, St Leonards 2065 P.O. Box 189, St Leonards 1590 ACN 147 436 280 ISSN 1039-1029 Website: www.cimmagazine.com PUBLISHER Alexandra Yeomans MANAGING EDITOR Ylla Watkins JOURNALIST Sheridan Randall SALES & MARKETING MANAGER Jo Robinson ACCOUNT MANAGER Michelle Cullen DESIGN/PRODUCTION MANAGER Bin Zhou DIGITAL/PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Xin Jin EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Anna-Louise McDougall

HEAD OFFICE – SYDNEY +61 2 9438 2300 Creative Head Media Pty Ltd Fax: +61 2 9438 5962 Email: enquiries@creativehead.com.au

SUBSCRIPTIONS 1 yr $99; 2 yrs $174; 3 yrs $261 (inc. GST)

Alexandra Yeomans, Publisher

Copyright © 2014 Creative Head Media Pty Ltd. Opinions expressed by the contributors in this magazine are not the opinion of CIM. Letters to the editor are subject to editing.

4 Convention & Incentive Marketing, May 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

Exclusive official publication for the PCO Association

CAB Audited Circulation 16,553 September 2013 nce Organise rs fere A on

PCO

Inc. ation oci ss

Indigenous culture can seem remote for many nonIndigenous Australians, but there are plenty of programs and initiatives available to business events groups that are opening up Indigenous Australia to a wider audience.

Find out more on page 30.

Nielsen Media Research July 2004 Readership 57,936 monthly

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INDUSTRY NEWS NEWS BRIEFS New faces for events in NSW NSW Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner (pictured) has been appointed Minister for Tourism and Major Events, following last month’s Cabinet reshuffle under new Premier Mike Baird. Katrina Hodgkinson has been appointed Assistant Minister for Tourism and Major Events.

Red alert at Glebe Island Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island (SEC@GI) recently served as the marshalling point for 120 Ferraris participating in the Ferrari Racing Days “Road to Sydney” cavalcade. “We were looking for a venue with the size and capabilities to work with us on this event,” said event organiser Kevin Buckley.

Brisbane expands free wi-fi ahead of G20 Brisbane City Council is expanding its free wi-fi system, and encouraging local businesses to provide free wi-fi to their patrons, ahead of the G20. “Nearly 250 local businesses including the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre have already put themselves on Brisbane’s digital map,” said Lord Mayor Graham Quirk.

Perth to host World Wide Web Conference Perth will host the World Wide Web Conference for 2017 (WWW2017).

Tim Bernes-Lee, inventor of the world wide web, along with more than 1000 international technologists, businesses and standards bodies will descend on the city in May 2017 for the five day conference.

Glass artist wins inaugural art prize Emerging Adelaide glass artist Natasha Natale (pictured right) has won the inaugural Emma Hack Art Prize, part of the Adelaide Convention Centre’s Centre ArtBeat initiative, for her sculpture Stump. Centre ArtBeat was established in 2013 to showcase the work of South Australian artists.

Good Friday Appeal breaks record This year’s Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal (GFA), held for the first time at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), has raised a record-breaking $16,846,396.

“This is an incredible result, each and every year the amount we are able to raise is truly overwhelming and 2014 has been no different,” the Appeal’s executive director, Deborah Hallmark, said.

“MCEC was a phenomenal first-time host of the 2014 Good Friday Appeal, including the Channel 7 Telethon, Kids Day Out

activities and Charity Spectacular.”

The GFA is the largest community event ever hosted at MCEC, with more than 60,000 Victorians joining in the fun on the day.

MCEC chief executive Peter King said the team were thrilled to be involved and help the Appeal raise much needed funds to support the work of The Royal Children’s Hospital.

“MCEC is a valuable community asset and we were incredibly proud to open our doors to the Victorian public, do it for the kids and deliver such a wonderful result in our first year as host,” he said.

Sporting incentives ahead Two major international sporting events in Sydney in 2015 – the AFC Asian Football Cup and the ICC Cricket World Cup – are set to provide Asian companies with unrivalled opportunities to develop unique incentive programs guaranteed to reward, motivate and inspire their high-achievers, according to Business Events Sydney (BESydney).

“I can’t think of a more spectacular way to reward your best staff, or VIPs, than with a premium, once-in-alifetime opportunity to attend a globally significant event in one of the world’s favourite cities,” said BESydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith.

Sydney is set to host the finals series as well as a number of qualifying games in the final draw for the AFC Asian Football 2015, which will take place in January next

“Additionally, these international events provide great opportunities for Australian and international firms to identify potential business partners.”

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

year. And, in February, Sydney will welcome the world’s cricket elite for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

Australia popular for Korean incentives

Interest in Australia as a business events destination out of North Asia is reflected in the number of incentive bookings out of Korea, according to Tourism Australia managing director John O’Sullivan.

“During 2014 and 2015, Australia is confirmed to host a number of Korean incentive bookings ranging from 100 to 1000 delegates from industries representing electronics, IT, banking and beauty industries,” he said.

“The upswing in incentive bookings out of

Korea is consistent with recent research conducted by Tourism Australia amongst corporate decision makers in Korea, which revealed that Australia is ranked number one against 45 competitor countries across a range of factors which influence the choice of destination.

To capitalise on the interest, Tourism Australia, along with business events industry partners representing Sydney, Melbourne, the Northern Territory (pictured), Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Cairns, recently travelled to Seoul recently for the North Asia Roadshow.

“Australia’s attributes of an outstanding food and wine offering, world-class beauty and natural environments, alongside a strong heritage and friendly people – all play an intrinsic role in the country’s overall appeal.”

“Australia is continually investing in its business events and incentive offerings tailored to suit the market and through trade missions such as this we want to highlight the diversity that Australia has to offer for business events,” said O’Sullivan.

AACB in China trade mission Representatives from the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) recently joined Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb in Shanghai to take part in Australia Week in China (AWIC) activities, which aims to develop relationships in market, resulting in Asian business for Australia.

Lyn Lewis-Smith, president of AACB, said that “the focus on long-term collaboration

is key to a strong Australia-China relationship".

"Australia's convention bureaux know the potential of this market and we need to ensure that we are in the best place to capitalise on these opportunities,” she added. “Our focus is collaborative, aligning ourselves with industry and government to target business opportunities in China in a strategic and coordinated way.

"According to the latest Tourism 2020 progress report for the business events sector, Australia welcomed 893,000 international business event delegates for the year ending September 2013, with a total expenditure of $13 billion. Of these figures, Chinese delegates represented 9 per cent of visitation and 11 per cent of expenditure. These are big numbers with big impact."

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

NZ NEWS

China: a New Zealand business events story Research recently undertaken by Tourism New Zealand has provided a better understanding of the perceptions of New Zealand as a Business Events destination in China.

The qualitative research, which involved interviews with key decision makers in China, has provided great insight into New Zealand’s strengths as a business events destination for this growing inbound market, and the areas that we need to develop more.

Royals open Christchurch venue In Christchurch as part of their official visit to New Zealand, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge officially opened Christchurch’s new Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre, which has been built to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Botanic Gardens.

Located in the heart of Christchurch’s Botanic Gardens, the NZ$16.4 million Centre features a working nursery, botanical research herbarium and a permanent exhibition telling the story of Christchurch through plants and gardens, as well as a multi-purpose function room which can seat up to 120 people, and a cafe with seating for a further 60 people.

Its riverside location also offers outdoor entertaining opportunities.

Venue management company Vbase will manage the facilities when they are completed and open for business this month.

“The striking design and stunning location give the visitor centre a wow factor and we’re certainly very excited about the possibilities it offers to event organisers looking for a special venue for their next function or event,’’ said Vbase general manager Darren Burden.

It was encouraging to see New Zealand already has a very strong positioning as a leisure destination in China. We rated strongly as being safe, diverse, beautiful and welcoming. Our visa processes and having good relations with China overall also rated highly.

This is a good start; however the research also highlighted some perceptions that present a challenge to business events in New Zealand.

Whilst our strong positioning in the leisure market certainly helps, our Chinese partners have indicated that we have more work to do if we want to achieve the same strong positioning in the luxury and

business events sectors.

New Zealand has some real strengths to build on as a business event’s destination – being a world leader in sectors such as marine, aviation, agribusiness, health science, high value foods, and earth sciences. And New Zealand has got fantastic luxury offerings – ranging from luxury lodges to high end hotels and world class venues. All the attributes our Chinese partners are looking for – they just don’t know about them in New Zealand.

Where we must focus our effort is in sharing these strengths with our target market and changing those perceptions.

This is an opportunity for the wider New Zealand business events team – from regional convention bureaus, venues and operators to DMCs, airlines, Conventions and Incentives New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand – to work collaboratively to tell this exciting story for business events in New Zealand.

Bjoern Spreitzer is international business events manager for Tourism New Zealand.

Air NZ supports airport growth Air New Zealand has welcomed Auckland International Airport Limited’s announcement of a development plan for the airport aimed at significantly growing visitor numbers from 14 million to 40 million in the next 30 years.

Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon says the plan offers enormous potential benefits to tourism.

“We recognise the importance of Auckland airport as a key piece of national infrastructure and one of the critical gateways for visitors to New Zealand,” he said.

“Customer experience is at the core of our business and the plans announced

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

today reflect a major step in not only improving that experience, but taking it to the next level in our biggest city.”

The announcement comes not long after the launch of Tourism 2025, a national framework which aims to align the New Zealand tourism industry and see industry stakeholders work together to capitalise on growth opportunities and increase tourism revenues to NZ$41 billion by 2025.

New mentoring program for NZ event organisers Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) has launched a new mentorship program to help grow the skills of the country’s professional conference organisers (PCOs).

The program will run for 16 weeks and is aimed at helping PCOs reach their full potential while at the same time building valuable relationships with one another.

NZ offers Australian events new tax break Australian organisations will now be able to claim back the goods and services tax (GST) when holding business events in New Zealand, following an amendment to The Goods and Services Tax Act 1985 which allows businesses that are non-resident in New Zealand to register for the GST. Australian conferences can qualify by meeting a list of criteria found on New Zealand’s Inland Revenue Department website.

Bjoern Spreitzer, international business events manager for Tourism New Zealand, has welcomed the change which he believes will make New Zealand even more accessible to Australian businesses and encourage them to choose New Zealand as

their next business events destination.

“Tourism New Zealand has made headway to encourage Australian companies to bring their conferences to New Zealand and show off its amazing people, venues and culture,” he says.

“Our key objective is to educate business about the advantages of conferencing in New Zealand and in doing so we’ve implemented new staff to cater entirely for the Australian market.

“Australia has a rich and diverse business culture and New Zealand’s conference options are only a three hour flight from the east coast with daily direct flights.”

Leading New Zealand PCOs Sally Bary, Megan Crum and Jan Tonkin have been instrumental in developing the program with CINZ. The New Zealand Coaching and Mentoring Centre is contracted to deliver the program and will match participants with appropriate mentors from within the business events industry.

“Although there is usually an immediate supervisor in the workplace to provide guidance, it can sometimes be difficult to talk openly with that person, particularly if they are their employer," said CINZ event manager Jeanette Stanton.

“We think PCOs who participate in the program will benefit greatly from having a mentor they can turn to and that it will lead to some strong and lasting relationships."

The program will begin in mid-June and the expectation is that the mentoring pairs will connect fortnightly or at least once a month. Before the program begins they will have one day of compulsory training with facilitators from the New Zealand Coaching and Mentoring Centre. That training will take place in June and has been timed to coincide with the 2014 Meetings exhibition.

For more information visit CINZ’s website.

Sydney’s most unique and versatile venue.

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Conferences, exhibitions, corporate meetings, training, fashion and product launches... and more!

www.atpcc.com.au For more information contact Ruby Chronis, Director Sales & Marketing Henderson Road, Sydney South, NSW 1430 Enquiries: 61 2 9209 4429 sales@atp.com.au

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, May 2014 9

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Japan looks to Australia Japan is targeting Australian business events buyers, presenting itself as a premium business events destination.

Representatives from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Texas, Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau and other business leaders from Dallas and Fort Worth travelled to Australia recently to strengthen ties between Australia and Texas, promote the Qantas-DFW route and announce new measures to streamline the customs process for Australians.

"The Australian market is more incentive [groups] than conventions but we are looking to increase the number of meetings held in Japan," said Maiko Zenki, director at Japan National Tourism Organization’s (JNTO) Sydney office.

"With the Australia dollar so strong against the Yen, what we would like to do is use this opportunity to conduct more familiarisations for event organisers to get to know Japan."

The Australian dollar has fallen against the US dollar and British Pound over the last 12

months, but has risen against the Yen over the same period, making Japan a much more affordable destination, according to Zenki.

CWT Meetings & Events launches in China Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) Meetings & Events has entered into China’s meetings and events market after being granted a tour operating license by the China National Tourism Administration that will allow it to deliver inbound and domestic meetings and events in China for its clients.

“CWT China’s rapid growth in the last decade is an accurate reflection of the tremendous potential of this market,” said Albert Zhong, general manager, CWT China.

“China’s business travel market has grown

Texas ‘most convenient hub’ for US travel

to become the second largest in the world according to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), and meetings and events are key drivers of this. With the launch of CWT Meetings & Events in China, we aim to grow our presence in this space and provide both local and multinational companies the expertise and support they need to organise creative, cost-effective and impactful meetings and events.”

CWT Meetings & Events China will be led by Ike Zhang, who is based in Shanghai.

The 14-member delegation, led

by Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price (pictured, right), arrived in Sydney following three days in Western Australia where they met with government and business leaders in Perth and spent time at the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) Conference.

“At DFW we have been working diligently to streamline the customs and immigration process for our international customers,” said Sean Donohue, chief executive of DFW Airport (pictured, left). “Our goal at DFW is for the vast majority of international arriving customers to clear customs in less than 30 minutes.”

In October, DFW launched its Automated Passport Control (APC) system for US and Canadian citizens, allowing travellers to interact with one of 30 kiosks for primary immigration screening. Beginning in May 2014, the service will be expanded to visa waiver countries, including Australia.

“DFW is easily the most convenient hub to connect to the rest of the United States, with over 100 natural connections for Qantas customers beyond DFW into US markets, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Donohue.

Australia is the sixth largest point of origin for visitors to Texas, with Dallas and Fort Worth receiving around 50,000 visitors from Australia each year.

According to Robert L Jameson, president and CEO of Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau, the region offers great opportunities for the Australian conference and incentive market, with Dallas and Fort Worth, both located half an hour from the DFW airport, offering “two distinct possibilities”.

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

New Caledonia wants Aussies to ‘Have it all’ In the lead up to the inaugural direct Melbourne to Noumea flight scheduled for June 6, 2014, New Caledonia Tourism and carrier Aircalin have launched a joint advertising campaign to inspire more Australians to experience New Caledonia.

The Tourism body has also recently held a series of “Soirées”, in key Australian cities, which saw a number of operators and hoteliers from the destination meet with buyers.

The US Travel Association has thrown its weight behind a proposed move to extend Brand USA – a non-profit, public-private partnership dedicated to increasing inbound international travel to the United States – until 2020.

The program generates an estimated US$47 in economic benefits for every US$1 spent on travel promotion. It is funded by international visitor fees and private matching funds, with no costs being borne by US taxpayers.

The “Have it all” campaign will highlight New Caledonia’s blend of island landscapes, French culture and Melanesian traditions, as well as its increased accessibility.

“We are all committed to the success of the new route, and that is why both Aircalin and New Caledonia Tourism have invested a significant amount into this campaign which is a mix of direct consumer advertising and co-operative marketing with partners,” said Aircalin general manager for Australia, NZ and Fiji, Ken Triffit.

Move to extend Brand USA

Speaking at the Sydney event, Jean Michel Foutrein, manager of New Caledonia Tourism, said that new direct flights would make it very easy for Australians to access the French Pacific island.

“It is a new era for New Caledonia for tourism including business events,” he said.

“All the partners, hotels, airlines and tourist bodies have worked together, and Australia is a priority for us."

"Through partnerships with America's communities and states, Brand USA has been a powerful force in promoting our nation's destinations around the world and attracting more international visitors and their dollars," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the US Travel Association. "What's more remarkable, the program delivers these benefits all without costing US taxpayers one dime."

In 2013, Brand USA increased inbound international travel to the United States by 2.3 per cent, resulting in 1.1 million additional trips to America.

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www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, May 2014 11

COVER STORY

Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, Sarawak’s premier purpose-built venue.

Located in the heart of Asia, Malaysia is steadily becoming the meeting place of choice for international event organisers looking to capitalise on its proximity to the largest and fastest growing economic region in the world.

Malaysia is ranked seventh in meetings destinations in Asia Pacific by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), whilst Kuala Lumpur as a convention city makes the top five. With its mix of cultural diversity, rapidly growing infrastructure, multitude of venue and accommodation options and range of compelling locations from the metropolis of Kuala Lumpur to the rainforests of Borneo, Malaysia sets itself apart from any other destination.

Fast track Well positioned both geographically and economically, a boost in infrastructure investment is set to see Malaysia capitalise on its steady rise as one of the most popular meetings destinations in Asia.

Currently under construction, the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur’s Jalan Duta, will be the country’s largest exhibition space when completed in 2016, with a total floor space of 90,000sqm.

Capital city Kuala Lumpur is also undergoing a massive upgrade to its infrastructure with the Mass Rapid Transit and extension of the Light Rapid Transit expected to be

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

completed by 2020. The project, the largest infrastructure development ever undertaken

by Malaysia, will cover a radius of 20km from the city centre, increasing accessibility and connectivity for business travellers.

In addition a new series of pedestrian walkways totalling 42km will link the retail and tourism trail between Bukit Bintang and Kuala Lumpur city centre. Developed in stages, a 562m elevated and air-conditioned walkway has already been completed linking Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre to the Impiana Hotel.

Situated next to the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, the Convention Centre is at the heart of over 12,000 hotel rooms, extensive shopping and entertainment facilities, and convenient transport connections and is set to increase its convention and exhibition space by a further 12,500sqm, enabling it to handle events in excess of 6000 delegates when completed in 2017.

The Borneo Convention Centre Kuching in Sarawak is also attracting more international events to Kuching following its winning bid to host the 55th ICCA Annual Congress in 2016 and the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2014.

Malaysia also has direct access from over 100 destinations worldwide with 56 airlines, including national carrier Malaysia Airlines and low-cost carriers Air Asia and Air Asia X, making hosting an event even easier.

Q&A

Creative thinking Creative Innovation Asia Pacific 2013, presented by Creative Universe, was recently named Corporate Event of the Year at the global Eventex Awards. CIM asked Creative Universe founder Tanya de Jong about the event.

Q: What’s your background and how did it lead you to come up with the idea for the Creative Innovation conference?

A: My work in the MICE industry began 27 years ago with my singing group Pot-Pourri. I am the founder of charities Creativity Australia and The Song Room, and developed Creative Universe and Inspiring Minds to help unleash potential and improve wellbeing, engagement, innovation and productivity in organisations through creative thinking, team building and leadership programs. To me the Creative Innovation Global conferences were the next logical step to encourage a culture of innovation and creative leadership on a global scale.

Q: Can you tell us a little about Creative Innovation Asia-Pacific 2013 and its goals?

A: Creative Innovation Asia Pacific 2013 (Ci2013) brought together over 40 world class innovators, thinkers and business leaders who presented on cutting edge innovation, future scenarios and global trends, threats and opportunities. We aim to create “positive human collisions” between people across all sectors to co-create cross-disciplinary solutions that will make a difference in organisations and the community. The event includes an innovative program of keynotes, master classes, deep conversations and artistic elements to facilitate new strategies and techniques for improved leadership and creative innovation.

Mondelez international, Fairfax Media, PwC, Sofitel, State and Federal Government. Thanks to the innovative format of Ci events we have defined a new model of conference, and impacted disadvantaged individuals and communities by supporting Creativity Australia, our charity partner. The proceeds from the Ci2013 gala dinner were donated to Creativity Australia’s innovative and inspirational With One Voice program.

Q: What were some of the challenges involved in organising the conference?

A: The main challenge we had to overcome was the last minute cancellation of particular speakers. When this occurred we had to quickly come up with a solution in order to find a high profile replacement. We were able to do so thanks to the large pool of speakers in the master classes and also by using our network of significant international and national leaders.

Another challenge was when a major partner announced publicly their partnership with Ci2013 then decided to pull out a few months later. This matter was solved by meeting with the partner concerned and working on how we could maximise the partnership.

Q: Are there any ideas/initiatives that you put in place for the event that you’re particularly proud of?

Q: Why did you zero in on the “six Es” (environment, energy, economy, education, entrepreneurship and ethical leadership)?

A: I think the rate of change is really astonishing; we are racing into the future. The theme of Ci2013 and more specifically the six Es really represent the key topics and issues we have to address in order to be ready for the race to the future. These six Es are also interconnected so if we want to overcome our biggest challenges and find truly innovative and sustainable solutions we need to see them as part of one ecosystem. We have so much to learn from other sectors and Creative Innovation (Ci) aims to break down silos to create an environment where collaboration and co-creation is possible both during and following on from the event.

Q: How were you able to measure the success of the conference?

A: Creative Innovation Global Asia Pacific is now regarded as the leading event of its kind in Australasia, attracting major media coverage, over 80,000 annual visits to our website, and trending number one on Twitter in Australia. Ci2013 attracted over 700 attendees, over 40 world class international and Australian speakers, and a large number of high profile partners such as

A: During the event, inspirational and educational keynotes, breakthrough insights and creative leadership “hot spots” occurred alongside visual arts, opera singers, graphic artists, live musicians, improvisation comedy and projection mapping.

Using the arts during Ci2013 stimulated the right side of the brain of the attendees and fostered creativity and greater connections between all delegates. We are also very proud of our partnership with Sofitel Melbourne On Collins. The creative innovation of the entire event including theming of food, beverage and décor to suit each year’s conference theme is a highlight for everyone involved.

Another special initiative is our Ci Innovation Leader Scholarships which enable 10 innovators annually to pitch their ideas to the audience, attend the event, learn and network. We receive hundreds of applications each year.

Q: What does it mean to you as a company to be recognised by the event industry?

A: Its a huge honour and testament to the enormous army of creative innovators and partners we have collaborated with over the past four years to create and develop this awesome event. It shows we are on the right track, that we are making a difference… And it makes all those very late nights worthwhile.

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

CANBERRA AND SURROUNDS

Confidence builder Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin.

Canberra is moving beyond its reputation as the centre of government to become a destination in itself for event organisers, writes Sheridan Randall.

The recent trip by Kate and Wills was a great example of what is top of mind for many when they think of Australia, and it should be of no surprise that Canberra featured on their itinerary for the Anzac Day ceremonies at the Australian War Memorial. Canberra is the nation’s home for many things including politics (Parliament House), remembrance (the Australian War Memorial) and art (the National Gallery of Australia). All of these iconic venues are also available for use as meetings venues, but there is so much more on offer.

Late last year Canberra

Convention Bureau hailed the introduction of Canberra’s new brand as a welcome opportunity to promote Canberra’s identity.

Canberra Convention Bureau chief executive Robyn Hendry said at the time that one of the main aims of the project is “to shift perceptions of Canberra and encourage more people to engage with the city as a place to live, work, learn, visit and invest”.

“It is important to remember that this brand is more than just a logo,” she said. “It is the stories behind the brand which include the city’s assets and characteristics that give value

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

and meaning to the brand.

“Having a city brand will give us a wonderful opportunity to speak collectively about a place we are all so proud off. As people and organisations begin to engage with this brand we will be able to demonstrate our credentials as a vibrant and innovative city.”

The new level of activity has shown through on the ground with the number of 5- and 4.5star hotels in Canberra steadily increasing over the past decade.

A new Vibe Hotel is planned for Canberra Airport complete with

Collaboration The National Convention Centre Canberra (NCCC) will host the 9th Associations Forum National Conference on July 16 to 17, 2014, with over 400 delegates expected to attend. Stephen Wood, manager for NCCC, says the local business events community is “highly collaborative”.

“This conference provides Canberra with a wonderful opportunity to show delegates what Canberrans already know, that Canberra is the ‘Most Liveable City in Australia’,” he says.

conference centre. Expected to open in late 2015, the new 191 room property will be positioned near the entrance to the new terminal. Conference facilities will include one large room, which can be split into two, five boardrooms and a pre-function space.

QT Canberra, formerly the Rydges Lakeside, opened last month, with the newly

rebranded property featuring a redesigned exterior and interior in the QT style. The 205-room hotel also offers an Italian bistro themed Capitol Bar &Grill and a number of exclusive retreats with secret rooms, private hideaways and secluded meeting spaces. The rebranding leaves only one Rydges property in Canberra – Rydges Capital Hill.

C A N B ER R A LIA THE MEE TIN G PL ACE O F AUSTR A

“Now there are more properties in Canberra it is easier to sell Canberra as a destination,” says Richard Hoe, director sales and marketing at Rydges Capital Hill.

“When you are in Sydney or Melbourne if you have a big conference group coming in you can accommodate everyone.

In Canberra we are trying to do that but we have to work

closely together to bring the business in.”

The new QT Canberra is located in the booming NewActon precinct, which is fast securing a reputation as offering high end, boutiquestyle accommodation across the three hotels there, according to Diamant Hotel’s operations manager, James Sharrock.

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

Eat The NewActon dining precinct is one of the most exciting places to eat in the national capital with Parlour Wine Room, A. Baker, Močan & Green Grout and a Prosecco Bar at the Palace Electric Cinema.

The newest addition to Canberra’s dining scene is the Kingston foreshore with restaurants and cafes like C Dine Bar, Lonsdale Street Roasters, La Rustica and Mork’s setting up shop.

QT Canberra.

With five food and beverage options, an outside area where live music is hosted on Friday afternoons, a small grocery store and even a cinema, NewActon is “quite self-reliant”.

“We are quite limited with meeting space but we work with the surrounding properties – QT Canberra and Hotel Hotel – and we share what we can in terms of each other’s facilities,” Sharrock says.

The precinct’s proximity to Parliament House is a big drawcard, with many of the hotel’s meeting clients “very focused on government and

corporate [sectors]”.

Diamant Hotel offers two boardrooms which host up to 14 people, perfect for brainstorming and training sessions as well as discreet meetings with the powers that be.

“Business is steady all year round,” he says. “When it is available for corporates they generally jump on it. A lot of government departments and public sector groups make up the predominant use of the rooms.”

Canberra doesn’t just specialise in small, private events, it also does big very well. Really big in fact.

Exhibition Park In Canberra (EPIC) can cater from 50-10,000 for anything from gala dinners, conferences to exhibitions across its over 9000sqm of indoor space. Less than 10 minutes from the city centre, EPIC is located in a quiet country setting and is home to three of Canberra’s largest events including the National Folk Festival, Summernats Street Machine Festival and the Royal Canberra Show. In addition to this EPIC stages annual exhibitions and tradeshows including the Craft and Quilt Fair, Spring Home and Leisure Show, and

the Snowsports Industries of Australia Tradeshow.

“This year is shaping up to be a busy year at Exhibition Park with a number of new events listed on the calendar,” says Paula Sanchez, EPIC’s marketing and business development manager.

“We are seeing growth in the conference and seminars sector, primarily as a result of the major refurbishment to the Conference Centre in July 2013, offering a modern alternative to the more traditional conference venues and hotels in Canberra.”

The majority of the venue’s

$60 Day Delegate package available for bookings up until September 2014

Ph: 02 6295 3144 • Email: richard_hoe@rydges.com • Web: www.rydges.com/capitalhill 16 Convention & Incentive Marketing, May 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

Drink The Canberra District wineries have more than 30 boutique cellar doors within a 35 minute drive of the city. The renowned Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier is a true icon of the district.

While exploring the region’s wineries you can also enjoy delicious regional dining experiences along Poachers Way including Grazing restaurant, Poachers Pantry and Chocolate d’Or.

clients are based locally, however rising attendance at national tradeshows and conferences is resulting in increased interest in the broader national markets, according to Sanchez.

“Canberra has much to offer an

event organiser despite widely spread negative impressions of a boring, dull, government town,” she says. “Featuring many of the national cultural institutions, there are unique attractions for interstate audiences outside the main

event. Many of these national attractions have facilities to hold corporate functions, adding class, elegance and culture to a conference program.

“Most Liveable City” (conducted by Auspoll for the Property Council of Australia), stealing the crown from Adelaide.

As proof of the city’s rising confidence, Canberra was recently voted the nation’s

“It is evolving as a place people want to live, not just a place people end up due

right now in

Goulburn

work colleagues are forgetting to talk shop

Conference and Events at the AIS The AIS is a unique venue where extraordinary events occur every day.

Situated just minutes from Canberra’s city centre, the AIS not only inspires excellence in sport — it also delivers excellence in professional events.

Boasting 11 exceptional event venues and spaces — not to mention an experienced events and catering team — the AIS will ensure your event is one to remember.

From small, intimate meetings and events to large-scale conferences (4000 delegates theatre-style) and gala dinners (900 banquet-style) in the AIS Arena as well as our unique interactive sporting exhibition, Sportex, the AIS is Canberra’s most adaptable and experienced event venue.

/ais

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And just one hour from Canberra and centrally positioned between Sydney and Melbourne, the Goulburn region is perfect for retreats, conferences, or any other event.

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

Shop Braddon’s Lonsdale Street offers an eclectic mix of boutiques, pop up stores inside Lonsdale Street Traders, cafes, bakeries and restaurants. After a shopping spree, visit Eightysix for a bite to eat. The eatery was named after the act of crossing off or “86-ing” a dish from the menu due to the kitchen selling all examples prepped for service.

to circumstance,” Sanchez says. “Having a solid calendar of events that meets locals needs, and drives tourism and economic development in the region, can only assist in building the reputation of Canberra as a destination.”

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) occupies an important space in the nation’s psyche, having shaped so many of our world class athletes. It is now also taking that competitive spirit into the event’s sector.

“We are eager to work with the business events sector to deliver the exceptional experience our clients rightly expect,” says Craig Fairweather, AIS’s marketing manager.

“It is about more than athletes, more than medals, it’s about working together in partnerships to ensure sustainable success.”

4200 delegates theatre-style and has hosted everything from Lady GaGa concerts to annual national conferences for the National Farmers Federation.

Only minutes from Canberra’s CBD and set amongst 65 hectares of campus-like grounds, AIS has 11 event venues with capacities ranging from 10-4000 people.

“We recently hosted a gala dinner for nearly 900 guests and, along with our catering partner, Trippas White Group, were delighted to hear from the event organisers that it was the best event they had held in many, many years.

“While sport is our raison d’etre, our facilities and venues are available for use whatever your meeting, conference or event.”

Fairweather says. “Many in the business events market are not aware they can bring their clients to AIS. The AIS Arena, which is Canberra’s largest function space, can cater up to

But it’s not only large scale events that can be held at AIS, with the award-winning AIS Visitor Centre offering numerous meeting and banquet options including the Marathon Room with its life-sized images of Australia’s Sydney Olympic

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

heroes, making it perfect for cocktail receptions, launches or themed-events up to 250.

Sportex, the interactive sporting exhibit at the Visitor Centre, is ideal for cocktail functions up to 120 guests.

With other meeting rooms named after medals (Gold, Silver and Bronze) the competitive spirit is never far away at AIS, with delegates also able to partake in some of the activities on offer as well.

“Guests can try their hand at basketball, football, rowing and even virtual downhill skiing,” he says. “It surprises you sometimes how competitive even non-sporting people become in Sportex.”

Old world charm Only one hour from Canberra and two hours from Sydney, Goulburn in New South Wales is also looking to make a name for itself in the event sector, with its blend of old-world charm with modern facilities. Dating back to the 1820s, Goulburn is rich with heritage and history with many surviving Georgian, Victorian and Federation buildings and intact heritage precincts. In addition to the event spaces located within the Civic Centre including the Goulburn Regional Art Gallery and the Goulburn Mulwaree Library, the Council opened two new facilities including the Veolia Arena and GraceMillsom Centre at the Goulburn Recreation Area.

With a seating capacity for approximately 500 people, the Veolia Arena is the largest arena in the region, and is able to host concerts, shows, exhibitions and major sporting events.

Goulburn Courthouse.

Canberra is also home to the nation’s most treasured art collection with 160,000 works of art housed at the National Gallery of Australia.

The Gallery also offers an alternative setting for all types of events from conferences to cocktail receptions. The Gallery offers a 267-seat

theatre, the Gallery Space on level one, which borders the collection displays providing a perfect event backdrop, and the Members Lounge that overlooks Lake Burley Griffin.

A recent dinner held in the Gallery’s purpose-built Gandel Hall was The Australian Chamber of Commerce and

Industry’s (ACCI) Annual Business Leaders Dinner. The event saw a record crowd of 350 guests addressed by Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

“The Gallery holds exhibitions throughout the year and viewings of these and the permanent collection can be arranged for guests prior to

an event on request,” says Jennifer Dobbins, the National Gallery of Australia’s marketing and communications manager.

Canberra isn’t so much growing up as growing into itself, and with that comes a new found confidence of the quality of venues and activities on offer for event organisers.

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GEELONG

Pulling together While Geelong may have taken a few hits in recent months, the business events community is feeling positive ahead of the inaugural Victorian Tourism Conference 2014, due to be held there in July, writes Ylla Watkins.

It will be Geelong’s chance to shine this July when the regional city hosts the inaugural Victorian Tourism Conference.

The Pier Geelong.

Top: Waterfront bollards.

The Conference, which has been developed

by Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) in partnership with Tourism Victoria, will explore future trends, the latest research, consumer insights, and examples of leading operators aimed at strengthening and showcasing the industry.

It is anticipated that more than 200 tourism and event operators from throughout the state will gather in Geelong for the two-day event.

Making the announcement in February, VTIC chief executive Dianne Smith said the industry body was “really excited to be bringing our industry conference to Geelong”.

“The conference is a great opportunity for people from throughout our industry to share ideas, experiences and learn best-practice strategies to grow their businesses,” she said.

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

“It also provides an opportunity for the Geelong region to showcase its amazing tourism assets, as tourism is an increasingly important economic driver for the region.”

Mark Day, bureau manager for Business Events Geelong, which represents the business events industry in not only Geelong but also the Bellarine and the Great Ocean Road, believes that the conference is an exceptional opportunity for Geelong to show off what it can do.

“It’s the first time the event has ever been held within a regional destination and for them to choose Geelong and to spread it amongst a number of Geelong properties is fantastic,” he says.

“Delegates are coming from all over the state, and a number are staying in the region longer, so we’ve also been able to offer the group some pre and post touring options of the region.

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Geelong a hop, skip and a jump Less than an hour’s drive from Melbourne and 20 minutes from Avalon Airport, Geelong offers conference-goers all the amenities of a big city, minus the stress of the crowds and traffic.

Offering a range of team building activities from helicopter flights and Harley rides, bay cruises to horse and cart rides. You’re spoilt for choice in this compact regional city that provides delegates the perfect mix of business and leisure.

Geelong’s buzzing city boasts numerous quality venues, from large-scale resorts packed with leisure facilities to smaller boutique properties located at some of the region’s most scenic locations.

The Pier Geelong is located on the city’s iconic Cunningham Pier and has panoramic water views. From intimate business meetings for up to 50 people, a conference of 800 or cocktail party for 1000, The Pier offers a flexible floorplan, stylish décor and restaurant-quality in-house catering. The Pier Geelong is a multi-functional and versatile event space fabulously located with numerous activities right at your doorstep.

The Geelong Conference Centre located in the Eastern Beach Gardens provides a tranquil environment ideal for conferences, meetings or staff retreats. The centre offers hotel and suite accommodation and a cafe; all within walking distance to Geelong’s waterfront. With six flexible meeting rooms all offering high quality audio visual equipment, Geelong Conference Centre is a quality and distraction-free meeting place.

The Auditorium provides a spacious and light filled function venue with direct access to gardens, perfect for large group work or planning sessions.

and suites as well as flexible function rooms catering for a wide selection of events from small intimate cocktail parties to large trade displays. Mercure Geelong’s Function Centre with built in elevated stage or dance floor can accommodate more than 400 delegates in theatre style. Intimacy, privacy and sophistication of a contemporary hotel allow Mercure Geelong’s guests to connect with clients and colleagues on a more personal level.

Across the promenade, located in the heart of Geelong’s waterfront precinct is Four Points by Sheraton Geelong. The hotel offers 109 premium guest rooms and studios, all featuring balconies and most with waterfront views. Choose from five function rooms on a dedicated conference floor, for up to 230 delegates, that create the right environment for your next meeting, conference, tradeshow, or any special event.

Four Points Geelong is the region’s premier conference hotel, offering delegates first class facilities and amazing bay views.

Nearby is the city’s largest conference hotel Mercure Geelong; offering 138 spacious accommodation rooms including apartments

Look no further than Geelong for your next conference or event and Business Events Geelong can help facilitate with ease.

For more information on: The Pier Geelong – www.thepiergeelong.com.au

Geelong Conference Centre – www.gcc.net.au

Mercure Geelong – www.mercuregeelong.com.au

Four Points By Sheraton Geelong – www.fourpointsgeelong.com

Discover more at www.businesseventsgeelong.com.au www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, May 2014 21

A launch at The Pier Geelong.

“We’re hoping that delegates will take up those opportunities and head down the Great Ocean Road or head down to the Bellarine and experience some of the product we have outside of the Geelong CBD.”

get forgotten because we’re so close to Melbourne, but once we get a group down here, the properties we work with do such a fantastic job that nine out of 10 times they want to come back,” he says.

The Pier Geelong, Geelong’s largest purposebuilt conference and events space, will host the Victorian Tourism event with marketing manager for EMC Group Geelong, Liz de Been, saying they “plan to work hand in hand with Victorian Tourism to promote the conference to give both the event and venue the best exposure”.

With venues as diverse as The Pier Geelong (meeting capacity: 1000), Deakin Management Centre (meeting capacity: 180), also in Geelong, Peppers The Sands Resort – Torquay (meeting capacity: 550), and Mantra Erskine Beach Resort in Lorne (meeting capacity: 600), the region has plenty of options to offer for business events of all sizes.

“What better way to showcase a Tourism Conference than in one of the busiest and largest regional towns in Australia?” she says. “Geelong was a fantastic choice for this conference as was the selection of our venue to host it, as you get a spectacular look back along Geelong’s waterfront from within our venue, offering the best showcase of Geelong.”

“We’ve got unique venues, we have venues with a golf course, we have venues with an ocean view, we have venues in the centre of town, we have venues that cater for the not-for-profit market, we have venues for very high end groups,” says Day. “It doesn’t matter who we’re speaking to, we have a property that’s suitable for that group. If we go across a couple of properties we can accommodate groups of up to 1000.”

“[The conference] provides an opportunity for the Geelong region to showcase its amazing tourism assets.”

According to De Been, the highlights of the event will be the hundreds of people it brings into Geelong “to see and understand the quality and variety of facilities and activities geelong has to offer”, as well as the opportunity for providers such as The Pier Geelong to gain a “greater understanding of what the wider tourism market is looking for”.

With anecdotal evidence suggesting that many properties in the region are having a positive year in terms of the number of leads coming in, Day says the region is faring well overall.

“I think sometimes our region tends to

One of the region’s strengths as a destination, he adds, is the willingness of operators to work together to accommodate large events.

“If you’re a large group and you particularly want to come to our region, we don’t have a convention centre or one property that is large enough to cater to groups of 600-plus, but the region will put a united approach together to try to win that piece of business,” he says. “All the properties think the same the way. They understand that they can’t host the whole event but they want to see the event to come to Geelong. Once it’s in region, they then work out the best way they can facilitate it. It’s a team effort.”

Planners Guide to help boost region The updated Greater Geelong, The Bellarine and Great Ocean Road Planners Guide was launched earlier this year at the Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo by Penny Lion, general manager of Business Events Australia (pictured, top left).

The guide is anticipated to generate millions of dollars and support thousands of jobs by directly attracting business events to the region.

“Business events is a highly lucrative sector of the tourism industry,” Lion said, speaking at the launch.

“Last year more than 1600 business events were held in the region, approximately 64,000 delegates visited and an estimated $40 million in direct economic impact was generated for the region.”

The Planners Guide is a biennial publication that is used as one of the key marketing tools by Business Events Geelong for attracting business conferencing and events, with interactive new technology Layar now bringing the guide to life.

“Through Layar technology, you can now experience and capture Greater Geelong, The Bellarine and Great Ocean Road venues and services without leaving your office,” says Business Events Geelong bureau manager Mark Day (pictured, top right).

“The Layar app allows you to scan featured advertisements, instantly taking you to the Business Events Geelong website and enabling viewing of video vignettes on various properties.”

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

Q&A: Nigel Preston, 2014 Victorian Tourism Conference coordinator Q: Why did the Victoria Tourism Industry Council decide to look at a regional centre for the Conference?

A: Part of our organisation’s key policy priorities is to encourage regional tourism in Victoria. We have to “walk-the-walk”, not just “talk-the-talk”.

Q: What were the compelling factors that tipped the decision in favour of the city?

A: We called for leads through our partner organisation, Business Events Victoria, who provide a free business events leads service. They came back with a range of options and we narrowed it down to two.

As one of Victoria’s leading destinations we feel Geelong is a great place to discuss the importance of tourism and to highlight how tourism can be a key player in job creation and economic development.

They have experienced some really tough economic changes there over the past 12 months, and we want them to know that we are supporting the city and its economy.

The region is ideal for tourism investment due to its close proximity to Melbourne and infrastructure such

E KEYNOT R SPEAKE RT, UA TONY ST RMA CEO, N MAJOR SPONSORS

Q: Are you expecting the conference to leave a lasting effect on the city?

as airports, and we look forward to an opportunity to discuss the employment dividends that tourism can provide for regions such as Geelong.

A: The conference will make an impact on the city this July with hundreds of delegates in town, and the lasting effect of it will be in the hands of the local operators who attend and hopefully implement their learnings from the conference. Our delegates are important in spreading the word about great tourism experiences in Victoria and when they have a good time they certainly spread the word.

Q: What are your goals for this year’s conference?

A: To attract 250 operators to the conference from across Victoria, as well as challenge and inspire operators to strive for excellence; present and explore the latest primary research and trends; provide operators with practical solutions to improve their business; and to bring together everyone in our industry to share ideas and experiences to build profitable and sustainable tourism enterprises.

Q: What does Geelong offer in terms of tourism assets?

Q: Do you think that being in Geelong will help you achieve those goals?

A: We think that Geelong – and particularly the Pier Precinct – will provide a great backdrop for forward thinking about building profitable and sustainable enterprises.

The local tourism and business events team have been great in supporting us with media, speakers, marketing and logistical support; particularly in this preparation phase.

A: All of the regions in Victoria have their own unique selling points. In terms of Geelong, the tourism assets include the stunning waterfront precinct, first class regional dining experiences, wineries on the outskirts of town, and attractions such as the National Wool Museum, The Metropolis Gallery and The Blues Train. Close proximity to the Great Ocean Road touring route is also a key asset for the city, with thousands of domestic and international visitors annually.

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

HUNTER REGION Raise a glass The Hunter Region lays claims to some of Australia’s oldest wineries, but craft beer is also forging a solid reputation at some of the boutique breweries. The Hunter Beer Co. brews many award winning beers – from a delicate Pilsner to the mighty Bock.

All for one

Watch the video in the CIM iPad app.

When it comes to regional destinations, the Hunter Region in New South Wales is pulling together to put itself firmly on the business events map, writes Sheridan Randall.

The inaugural familiarisation organised late last year to showcase Newcastle, Hunter Valley and Port Stephens, collectively known as the Hunter Region, was by all measures an unparalleled success. The famil is part on an ongoing effort by all three partners to promote the region as a regional powerhouse for meetings, with its wide range of activities and meetings venues.

Association’s seventh national conference in October, 2015, beating stiff competition from Perth, Alice Springs and Dubbo.

The strategy is already bearing fruit, with Newcastle lining up a slew of conferences booked for next year. More than 600 medical education experts will flock to Newcastle in March next year for the Asian Medical Education Association (AMEA) Conference 2015 to be held at the University of Newcastle, marking the first time the biennial conference has been held outside of Asia.

All the delegates attending will be encouraged to visit the surrounding region including Port Stephens and the Hunter Valley, which is soon to be bolstered by the completion of the $4 million Hunter Valley Conference & Events Centre at Crowne Plaza. Scheduled for completion by November this year, the new Centre will have a combined 2012 sqm of prefunction, meeting, exhibition and convention space that can be used as one ballroom for up to 1000 people or a mix of rooms with flexible acoustic folding walls.

Newcastle Convention Bureau worked closely with the NSW Men’s Shed Association Branch to develop a competitive bid submission for Newcastle to host the Australian Men’s Shed

Other bid wins include 2015 Lions Convention (1500 delegates), 2015 National Alcoholics Anonymous Convention (800 delegates), and 2015 international Plant Propagators Society Conference (200 delegates).

“Over a period of many years we have seen the capabilities of the Hunter Valley meetings industry change and develop as larger and more elaborate infrastructure has developed,” says Gus Maher, general manager Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association. “This has included the expansion of both Mercure Hunter Valley Gardens and Sebel Kirkton Park, plus of course the establishment of Cypress Lakes as one of our larger and more sophisticated meeting venues.

“The new conference centre gives the Hunter Valley capability as a destination, to compete for business that previously we may not have had the capacity for. Specifically for association meetings and events, where in conjunction with other 4- and 5-star accommodation, we are probably now the most significant regional destination in Australia.”

With the region renowned for its wine and food, the

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

upcoming Hunter Valley Wine and Food Month in June is “a great opportunity” for event organisers to include some of the activities as part of a meeting or incentive itinerary, says Maher.

“That could include The Verandah Restaurant’s paella cooking class, recreating the RidgeView Ocean to Paddock dinner for a specific group, or a pre-dinner shiraz and steak matching at Mercure Hunter Valley Gardens,” he says.

“Including some of the great activities pre- or post-meeting can also add appeal to a program.

That could be a High Tea at Chateau Elan, or their Vintage Cork & Fork Cup for Golfers.”

Maher says that the Hunter Valley is always evolving in terms of both infrastructure and product with the aim of enticing both new and repeat business back to the region. These include the recent opening of the Lovedale Bar and Restaurant and The Lovedale Brewery at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley,

Feast for the senses Hunter Valley Wine & Food Month is a monthlong celebration of the region’s unique culture of fine wine and food. Throughout the month of June, take part in a series of intimate themed activities including the Winemaker’s Table Series which offers the opportunity to dine with iconic Hunter Valley winemakers and chefs.

which can cater up to 180 guests seated and up to 240 guests cocktail style.

The newly rebranded Cypress Lakes Resort by Oaks Hotels & Resorts is also focused on the conferencing, incentive and event market. The property offers four meetings spaces along with 126 one, two and three bedroom self-contained villas and an 18-hole golf course.

Port Stephens is set to host the 2014 Australian Regional Tourism Convention over five days in October this year. Based at the Whitesands Convention Centre at Shoal Bay Resort & Spa, meetings will be held across the region and in Newcastle.

“Port Stephens has long been a popular seaside destination for leisure travellers but this win shows our area is also perfect for corporate visitors who want to meet in a spectacular but relaxed environment,” says MICE Port Stephens manager Rebecca Morley.

“Our renewed partnership with Newcastle is showing dividends and we are certain our success will pave the way for our region to attract more high-yielding events and conferences in the future.”

Now co-listed as a destination for its flights to Newcastle, Port Stephens received international exposure when it hosted a group

of 20 international convention organisers as a part of post Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo famil in February.

Organised by MICE Port Stephens the four-day tour of the region saw the group experience sandboarding and quadbiking on the biggest sand dunes in the southern hemisphere as well as enjoy local craft beer and the dolphin-filled waters of Port Stephens itself.

Port Stephens is also looking to broaden its appeal beyond beaches and dolphins and cater to further develop its rich food and wine experiences for both the domestic and international visitor markets.

Destination Port Stephens marketing manager Tars Bylhouwer says the aim is to develop food and wine trails in partnership with the surrounding areas of Newcastle and the Hunter Valley to create a compelling culinary appeal for the greater region.

“We want to embrace our rich variety of food, wine and farmgate experiences, with the aim of guiding visitors from oyster, macadamia, fish and avocado farms to wineries, craft breweries, seafood shops and cutting-edge restaurants where local produce is translated into memorable experiences,” she says.

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oakshotelsresorts.com www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, May 2014 25

TASMANIA

Thinking big With the Tasmania “brand” riding high, the state is positioning itself to capture larger conferences and events, discovers Ylla Watkins.

Tasmania may be one of Australia’s smallest states but it’s also one of its coolest right now, with the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) drawing art critics and connoisseurs from around the globe and Hobart making it on to Lonely Planet’s list of the Top 1O cities in the world to visit last year. And it’s proving to be just as popular for events with Business Events Tasmania (BET) winning 84 bids with a direct economic impact of around $30.2 million to the state economy during the 2012-2013 financial year.

“The feedback we get is the delegate numbers often exceed expectations, and that has a lot to do with the pulling power of the overall Tasmania brand,” says bureau chief executive Stuart Nettlefold.

Top: An event in The Void Bar at MONA. Opposite page: A lunch at Country Club Tasmania.

“Along with being a beautiful destination it has a very exciting food and wine offering. We also

know through our research that we’re seen as a very friendly destination with high standards of service. Our venues also rate very well because often they’re situated in waterfront locations with magnificent views.”

With interest strong and forward bookings looking good, Nettlefold says the bureau is keen to challenge the perception that the state can only accommodate small- to mid-sized events.

“We’re actively targeting that 1000-1100 delegate sized conference,” he says. “There is a perception that we only host smaller events, around 400-500 pax, but we can accommodate much larger conferences, particularly in Hobart.

“In terms of bigger venues, we have the Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart, and with that the Federation Concert Hall

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

which we can utilise for plenary sessions for up to about 1100.

And then we have Wrest Point [Hotel Casino] as well.

“We’ve also seen the addition of some large-scale off-site venues in recent years, particularly with Princes Wharf 1, on Hobart’s waterfront, and Macquarie Wharf 2, which is the new cruise ship terminal, which can also be used for an offsite dinner for more than 1200 pax.

“What we find is that because Hobart is such a compact city, the hotels are all close together, and delegates can easily walk, within five or 10 minutes, to their venue.”

Recently refurbished, the Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart, overlooking Hobart’s famous harbour and Constitution Dock, is home to the Federation Conference & Exhibition Centre, including the 1100 seat

Photo: MONA.

See case study in the CIM iPad app.

Delegates rate Tassie Tasmania consistently rates highly as a destination with business events delegates, according to Nettlefold.

“Delegates love Tasmania,” he says. “The destination has high appeal which often leads to record attendance. Our delegate research also tells us that Tasmania delivers on that promise.

“96 per cent of delegates say they would recommend Tasmania to friends and colleagues as a place to visit and 63 cent say they plan to return within the next three years.

“Their satisfaction with the event experience is also very high with 91 per cent telling us they were totally satisfied with the friendliness of the Tasmanian people; 88 per cent with the standard of service; 87 per cent with the food and wine; 87 per cent with the business event organisation; 85 per cent with the business event facilities and 84 per cent with the state’s restaurants.”

Concert Hall. The hotel works closely with new offsite venues Macquarie Wharf 2 and Princes Wharf 1 to provide event planners with a “one-stopshop” experience.

“Before these two venues came along there was one piece of the puzzle missing,” says the hotel’s director of sales, Andrew Best.

“We could host their plenary, trade display, breakouts and accommodation but lacked that one other venue for gala dinners. Now conference organisers have a choice of two, both within walking distance of the accommodation providers on the waterfront.

“The great thing about Hobart is that we not only have the facilities to handle major events but we do it in such a unique way.

“There is no other capital where

you can walk out of your 1100 seat plenary hall and then be enjoying a glass of award winning wine amongst the vines in 20 minutes. We have two huge venues for gala dinners within walking distance of the hotel and the ferries to MONA leave from outside our doorstep.

“Large conferences take ownership of Hobart’s waterfront where delegates can sit and discuss the plenary session on the lawns of Salamanca place, get ready for their gala dinner and then stroll across the waterfront to the venue that’s nestled amongst the boats that caught the fish they are about to eat.

Best cites the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Opthamologists (RANZCO) Conference for 1200 delegates,

held at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in late 2013 (see CIM iPad app), as “a perfect example of how Hobart can host a large event”.

large blank canvas that happens to be situated in a superb location with views up the Derwent River from its historic Salamanca location.”

Princes Wharf 1, which can cater to up to 1200 seated guests, opened just over two years ago.

The home of Hobart’s annual Taste of Tasmania food and wine festival, Princes Wharf 1 offers another point of difference for event organisers. The entire venue has been fitted with gas, water and sullage facilities, which means that custom made mobile kitchen kiosks can be set up throughout the venue.

“Princes Wharf 1 has certainly opened up the market for large 600-plus seated events in Hobart and Tasmania overall,” says Saxon Mitchell, managing director of Venue Management Services, which manages Princes Wharf 1.

“Prior to the refurbishment of Princes Wharf there were no centrally located venues that could handle such large corporate gala dinners and welcome receptions. The appeal and point of difference of Princes Wharf 1 is that it is a

applauded.

“At the height of the Taste Festival some 30 kitchen kiosks are buzzing with chefs preparing unique dishes made entirely from Tasmanian produce,” says Mitchell.

“This concept has now been used many times for fabulous interactive corporate

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, May 2014 27

An experience like no other Multi-award winning Pennicott Wilderness Journeys is now offering a new product to the business event market. The Tasmanian Seafood Seduction is a new gourmet seafood cruise which sees groups gather the freshest Tasmanian seafood while exploring the pristine environment from which it comes.

Kicking off from Hobart’s waterfront, and cruising down the River Derwent into the sheltered waters of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Stops include the Tassal salmon pens and Get Shucked Oysters, where the guide will retrieve an oyster cage and serve freshly shucked oysters. Other stops see the guide dive into the water and with nothing more than a snorkel and mask, emerge with abalone and sea urchin, and pull cray fish pots from the water.

Following a stroll along the deserted Bruny Island beach, guests can help prepare and then indulge in a bountiful seafood feast paired with a delicious spread of fresh local breads, salads and cheeses, complimented by Tasmanian wines, boutique beers, ciders and juices.

and association welcome receptions and gala dinners putting a twist on the standard buffet or three-course seated menu.

“Some recent sample menus have included live Barilla Bay oyster shucking, and the 'Seafood punt' which uses local Hobart fisherman to prepare, cook and serve dishes such as lemon myrtle crusted calamari and local mussels served three ways. Local Tasmanian producer stalls are often set-up as well by renowned local food suppliers such as the Bruncy Island cheese stall; the Ashbolt Farm stand, serving up yummy homemade bread with their famous olive oil; and the Two Metre Tall Brewing Company serving up serving up sensational local hand crafted beers.”

Amongst the stand out events the venue has played host to since opening is the 2013

Qantas Tourism Awards, according to Mitchell, who says it “fully utilised the key aspects of the venue”.

“Guests were welcomed to the event with unique entertainment on the venue forecourt and along the Salamanca gardens area,” he says. “The large wooden deck that overlooks the historic Salamanca buildings was then used for pre-dinner drinks and canapés before the large venue doors were opened revealing the formal gala dinner set-up for the awards event.

“The high roof line and abundance of rigging points allowed for some stylish roof decor elements and a simple audio visual and presentation screen set-up for the awards component of the evening.”

MONA, which opened in 2011 to international acclaim and

has since become the second most visited tourism attraction in the state (28 per cent of all visitors to Tasmania visited the museum in the year ending September 2013), is another venue with a unique offering for business events.

“MONA has been a real revelation for Tasmania,” says Nettlefold. “It has really lifted the profile of the state for the type of visitor that is looking for art and cultural experiences. It has a lot of pulling power.

the fact that few visitors know what to expect.

“From the moment of arrival into the vineyard, which has seen 54 vintages, until they enter the museum building, we endeavour to surprise our visitors and to deliver above expectations,” she says.

“What we’ve found for the business events sector is that it’s a great facility for an offsite cocktail party or dinner.

Delegates can jump on a ferry and get to MONA in 25 minutes.”

“All of our spaces offer organisers the freedom to try something new in unique spaces: from an underground barrel room to The Void, which is 17 metres underground and built against Triassic sandstone. Our chefs love to experiment with the best ingredients, along with delicious wines and kick-ass beers. And it’s all surrounded by amazing art and architecture.”

The museum offers any number of options for business events groups, according to MONA food and beverage manager Maria Lurighi, with its appeal lying in

“The most common response [we get from event organisers] is the enormity of what is possible.

We have a wonderful photo diary of some very inspired events:

Convention Centre Size • Boutique Attitude

Hobart

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

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

20-22 MAY 2014 imex-frankfurt.com

An apple a day The Willie Smith Cider brand, which started in 2012 as a way to value-add to the organic apple orchard run by the Smith family in Tasmania’s Huon Valley, has recently launched a new event space – The Apple Shed.

Just 25 minutes south of Hobart city, the 1942-built apple packing shed, now restored to its former glory, was inspired by European cider houses and includes a museum and a providorestyle shop highlighting the best Huon Valley produce on offer.

TOMORROW’S

MEETINGS TRENDS,

TODAY

The venue caters for 40 people in the café, 60 people in the outside deck area and an additional 40 people in the outside “shed” area. everything from small, high-end executive retreats, to dinner for 500 under a chandelier-lit marquee or a cocktail party for 750 guests.

“There are very few creative ideas that we have said 'no' to.”

It’s not just Hobart where interest is strong; Launceston has also seen business pick up. The gateway to the Tamar Valley, the city is famous for its heritage architecture, exciting food and wine offering including some of the best sparkling wines Australia has to offer. Nearby attractions include Boags Brewery, Cataract George, Josef Chromy Vineyard, Hollybank Tree Top Adventures, Cable Hang Gliding and Tamar Valley Wine Route.

The Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston and the Country Club Tasmania both offer extensive facilities for business events.

Facilities at the Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston include eight meeting rooms within the hotel, ranging in size from 48sqm board rooms to a 269sqm Ballroom and a 592sqm conference centre, with the ability to cater for up to 800 delegates, while the Country Club Tasmania features 10 conference rooms, including the Mount Pleasant Room which can seat 450 delegates theatre-style.

Leah Muir, markets manager – conference & banquets at the Country Club Tasmania, says the market for business events in Launceston is looking up.

“In recent years the business events sector in Tasmania has seen some declines in line with national trends however, more recently we have seen significant growth as buyers begin to look for more meaningful, authentic conference experiences,” she says.

“Country Club has had a steady year in terms of the number of conferences. We are beginning to see significant pick up as the industry steers away from traditional CBD conferences.”

While clients are generally impressed by the Country Club’s facilities, the venue is also open to the idea of partnering with other venues and hotels to make an event happened.

“As Launceston is a tight knit community it is the whole city that delivers the conference,” says Muir. “The industry bands together to help execute conferences that make change in an authentic fashion.”

While the Bureau is actively targeting larger events, Nettlefold is quick to point out that the Apple Isle also has any number of great options for smaller groups, from smart city solutions to luxury lodges.

“In addition to the great offerings we have in Hobart and Launceston, we also have some great venues on the east coast, especially around the Freycinet Peninsular and then Cradle Mountain,” he says. “There are many beautiful parts of Tasmania.”

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www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, May 2014 29

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

Drum Atweme in action.

Bridging the gap Indigenous culture can seem remote for many non-Indigenous Australians, but there are plenty of programs and initiatives available to business events groups that are opening up Indigenous Australia to a wider audience, writes Sheridan Randall.

Of all our states and territories, the Northern Territory has the highest number of Indigenous people in its populace, with a third of the Territory's population made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

This makes it an almost foregone conclusion that Indigenous tourism experiences are at the forefront of culture in the Territory.

With high levels of unemployment and schooling issues amongst Indigenous youth in Alice Springs, Rob Clarke decided to do what he could to help tackle the many challenges they faced by founding Central Australian Football Club, the Redtails. Using football as a metaphor for life Clarke knew that no-one was going to be able to do it on

their own. These challenges needed to be met with teamwork from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous players.

“It’s simple and has very strong results, with people either getting employment, getting into full time education or making the steps to do these things and going to the next step and saying my life, and my family’s life, will be better for it,” says Clarke.

With 118 Indigenous and non-Indigenous players on the books, the Redtails are overcoming their challenges and picking up some high profile fans along the way.

Home grown Hollywood superstar Chris Hemsworth has signed on to support the team. Groups can also engage with the team,

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

with training sessions and motivation talks a great way to hear more about their story and talk with team members about their personal challenges and the success they have achieved being part of the team.

The club’s vice president Ian “Macca” McAdam says many Indigenous youth are “set up to fail”.

“Left to their own devices they don’t value education and there is a lot of alcohol abuse.

So what we find when we pull up to a school or Centrelink [is] they were too scared to walk in the door, so we have to walk through the door with them,” McAdam says.

“There are two things our blokes are passionate about – culture and football. They

Katherine Gorge Indigenous owned Nitmiluk Tours offers groups of five or more authentic indigenous experiences in the Top End. Spend a day with the local Jawoyn people at the Manyallaluk community, sharing their culture, learning their ways and trying some of the skills developed over thousands of years. Learn how to cook kangaroo tail, go bush and local stories. Activities on this full day tour include basket weaving; spear throwing, fire lighting, painting, and learning the Didgeridoo. You will also be taken on a short walk learning about bush medicines and bush tucker. Stay at Cicada Lodge or get a bus transfer from Katherine (approximately 100km) or an air transfers by fixed wing or helicopter (approximately 10 minutes).

will travel over 2000km to play a game of football in 40˚C heat but won’t walk across the road to go and get a job because they don’t have that capacity. Football helps them achieve that esteem and lets them be a rock star in their community. That’s why footy works. The result is not football it’s employment.”

about missing when they were in town was the bush medicine that their mums and grandmas used to use, and so we started going out looking for bush medicine to use for each other and then realised that maybe this was a way we could share our story with other people,” says Sarah Brown, chief executive of Western Desert Dialysis.

Art is also a great introduction to Indigenous culture, with Alice Springs-based gallery Muk Muk Fine Art showcasing some of the best Indigenous artists of the region and beyond.

“Family relatives could make some money picking some of the plants that only grow out in the Western Desert and sending them to family members here, which kept them together even though they were apart.

Also making the bush medicines was an opportunity to pass that knowledge on.”

“Our exhibitions are rotated on a six to eight week basis and each exhibition is titled with a theme. For example our current exhibition is ‘Monochrome’ a diverse collection of Aboriginal artworks that share the same colour palette – black and white.”

“There are two things our blokes are passionate about – culture and football.”

Another Alice Springs based organisation doing amazing things with the Indigenous community is Western Desert Dialysis (Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjaku Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation). Better known to locals as the Purple House.

With kidney disease 30 times the national average in Central Australia, the Purple House’s mobile dialysis truck has literally been a lifesaver for those in remote communities. Many Indigenous people also travel in to Alice Springs to receive treatment at Purple House.

“One of the things that people always talked

Conference groups can learn about the bush medicines and join in the process of turning the plants into the various balms and ointments that Purple House sells.

“If this culture is to survive kids need their grandparents out there in the country to teach them,” she says.

“The majority of the artwork is from Central Australia however we do have a small collection of artworks from artists further north as well as a collection of contemporary non-indigenous artists,” says Muk Muk’s co-owner Sharon Mitchell.

The gallery can cater for cocktail functions for up to 120 people and a la carte dinners for up to 80 people.

“We give talks about Aboriginal art and its origins and we can also advise on the story for any of the paintings that we have in the gallery,” she adds. “The story is a very important part of the painting both for the artist and the viewer, it gives a greater appreciation.”

The gallery can also provide the opportunity

Voyages Ayers Rock Resort

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

Uluru Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia has added to its portfolio of Indigenous Encounters at Ayers Rock Resort. The suite of activities includes traditional local Inma dance and welcome to country, dot painting workshops, Aboriginal campfire tours, performances from cultural dancers, an Indigenous dance workshop, a segment of traditional Aboriginal games, a session with the didgeridoo, spear and boomerang throwing lessons and a team building activity based around boomerang painting.

for groups to engage with Aboriginal artists as they create their artworks and share dreamtime stories.

who perform with drums and dance locally in Alice Springs and as far afield as Melbourne and Adelaide.

One language that is universal is music, with Drum Atweme a great way to interact with the younger generation of the Arrernte people of Central Australia. Founded by Peter Lowson a decade ago, what started as an after school and holiday program to keep kids motivated at school has since blossomed into an almost 70-strong group of children

“The kids have ownership of the program and have a say on how it’s run, what rhythms we put together and how they are adapted to their culture,” says Lowson.

relationship with these kids,” he says. “This program has had such a long term effect on these kids you have got generations of brothers and sisters in the group. The kids feel safe in that way, and feel like they have some control over their lives and are part of the wider community in Alice Springs.”

The kids’ ages range from six to 19-years old, with some performing with the group since it was founded.

Other than being a great way to keep young Aboriginal kids at school, the group also serves as way to keep their culture alive.

“It takes a long time sometimes to build a

“We don’t do anything without consulting

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Darwin Larrakia Nation is the official representative of the traditional owners from the Darwin region. The organisation provides authentic Aboriginal culture products and experiences for conference and incentive groups. Their range of activities includes art demonstrations and workshops where delegates can engage with Aboriginal artists in hands-on classes, pop-up art exhibitions in convention venue foyers, bush tucker and bush medicine presentations, the creation of culturally-designed conference bags, plaques and awards and welcome to country ceremonies and performances.

with the elders and family members who come along and watch the group play,” he says.

“They often sing in their own language.

Culturally they couldn’t go out and [perfrom] the dances they do traditionally, but it’s alright for them to do what they are doing [at Drum Atweme] as they can go out and still use their language, still be the cultural people they are but in a contemporary way, because it is a living, growing culture.”

With Drum Atweme involved with more than 75 per cent of the conferences held at the Alice Springs Convention Centre, the group are opening up a real connection with visitors from all over Australia.

“A lot of people come to Central Australia and never see an Aboriginal kid,” he says.

“The idea when we get people to come and [participate] on stage with shakers is to connect and allow people to come into their world a bit, even though it might be brief.”

Muk Muk Fine Art Gallery.

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SHANGHAI

Aiming high Shanghai is a city with its eye on the future and with a huge spurt in infrastructure investment across both its hotel and conference venue sector set to come online in the next few years, this metropolis is on track to become a global meetings hotspot, writes Sheridan Randall.

Shanghai’s appeal as an international meetings destination has never been higher, with the 52nd International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Congress held in Shanghai late last year testament to the city’s global appeal. The Congress attracted almost 1000 delegates in the meetings and tourism sector from more than 60 countries and regions around the world, and marked the first time the ICCA Congress was held in Mainland China since the foundation of the organisation 50 years ago.

For more information visit www.meet-in-shanghai.net

"If you are engaged in a globallyconnected business you need to understand how China is shaping and driving our global economy,” said ICCA President Arnaldo Nardone. “Our Congress in Shanghai provides the perfect opportunity to our members to learn how to communicate and work with Chinese consumers, Chinese delegates, Chinese business partners or Chinese

competitors. To experience a civilisation state with thousands of years of sophisticated culture, a booming consumer market with a population of over 1.3 billion, unique business models and entrepreneurial thinking, and a city that is defining the shape of the 21st century metropolis."

Shanghai has also just come off the back of hosting Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings (IT&CM) China at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center. As the largest international business events trade show in China it attracted over 3000 visitors.

IT&CM China’s official Opening Ceremony and Welcome Dinner was held for the first time at the River Mall, which is situated within the Shanghai Expo arena. As one of Shanghai’s newest developments, the River Mall is anticipated to become a well-known feature of Shanghai’s event calendar, with the Opening Ceremony a “soft launch” of the new venue.

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

“We are truly fortunate to have such a fantastic opportunity to create awareness among the MICE industry players on a global as well as nationwide scale,” said Li Yu Lin, general manager of Shanghai Expo.

“Through this evening’s showcase of the venue, we anticipate and look forward to future cooperation with this evening’s delegates. I believe IT&CM China has been the ideal platform for us to make our debut in this arena.”

With more than 100,000 hotel rooms and more new hotels and venues opening or re-opening after restoration, Shanghai is definitely looking to the future.

The J Hotel Shanghai Tower is one of the most anticipated new hotels and is set to take luxury to another level when it opens in 2015 in the new Shanghai Tower, Pudong. The first super luxury hotel under Jin Jiang International Hotels new “J” brand, it will occupy the top

Clockwise from opposite page: Shanghai Hongqiao National Convention and Exhibition Center; looking across the river to Pudong from the historic Bund; Jin Jiang International Hotel; Yu Gardens by night.

portion of the 121 storey, 632m Shanghai Tower, which is set to be the tallest building in China and the second tallest in the world. The hotel will feature over 200 rooms, three restaurants and a world-class spa.

Jin Jiang International Hotels.

Jin Jiang International Hotels is the largest star-rated hotel management company in China.

“Out of the 126 hotels Jin Jiang has in its portfolio, 25 are located in Shanghai, of which there are a number of renowned heritage hotels which each have their own unique historic presence and prestige, in addition to beautifully, well-crafted architectural designs.”

“Jin Jiang has an extensive network within the city of Shanghai and the brand is very much part of the rich history of China,” says Cinn Tan, senior vice president marketing and sales at

With a quarter of the total room nights across Jin Jiang International Hotels portfolio credited to business events, the sector remains a high priority for the company, according to Tan.

“The aim at Jin Jiang International Hotels is to continue to strengthen and maintain the brand’s position as a leading national hotel brand, whilst further increasing Jin Jiang’s international profile and brand awareness,” she says.

Also planned for completion within the next three years is the Shanghai Hongqiao Convention and Exhibition Centre, which will be built at a cost of $3.93 billion, and is set to be about three times the size of the Shanghai New International

Expo Centre.

“With such high level projects under way, the future looks bright for Shanghai as a truly global centre for meetings, incentives and exhibitions,” says Patrick Chen, deputy director of the International Tourism Promotion Department of Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration.

“Massive investments have been made to back these projects which will take Shanghai to great heights on the world’s stage.”

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

MALAYSIA

Expansion plans for KLCC With the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre operating at full capacity, expansion plans are well underway, discovers Ylla Watkins.

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) may well be facing one of its toughest crowds ever this month when Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) holds its Annual National Conference in the Centre. Only the second time the conference will be held outside Australia, the three-day event is expected to attract more than 300 business events industry professionals, all of whom are no doubt keen to check out the Centre’s facilities and service first-hand.

One of South East Asia’s most awarded convention centres, KLCC finished 2013 on a high with a record 1565 events held at the centre; a 9 per cent increase on the 1442 events held in 2012 and the highest number ever held in a calendar year since opening in June 2005. In total, the Centre welcomed 2 million delegates in 2013, contributing RM700 million ($235 million) in economic impact to the Malaysian economy, compared with 1.6 million delegates and RM590 million ($198 million) in 2012.

Amongst the high-profile events held during the year were the 3rd Women Deliver Global Conference (Women Deliver 2013), the 4th Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES 2013), the 7th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2013), the 35th Asia Pacific Dental Congress (APDC 2013) and the 2013

International Dragon Award (IDA 2013) Annual Conference.

With the Centre running at capacity, plans to expand onto an adjacent lot, Lot 91, are currently being finalised, with industry consultation to follow, according to KLCC general manager Alan Pryor (inset picture).

“The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre has gone from strength to strength since opening in June 2005,” he says. “Between our opening and 31 March, 2014, we have successfully held 8593 events and hosted over 15.8 million delegates and visitors.

“Part of this success can be attributed to our on-going investments in enhancing our infrastructure. So with this in mind, we feel that expanding the venue is the next logical step to help us better meet the needs of new and existing clients and maintain our position as the venue of choice in Malaysia.”

With the expansion expected to be completed by early 2018, Pryor says that when operational “Lot 91 will provide an additional 12,500 sqm of flexible and multipurpose space to the Centre’s current 22,659 sqm”.

“This will enable us to host larger events and allow many of our repeat exhibition clients to grow their events significantly,” he says.

“It will also give us more flexibility with regard to our conference space enabling us to host larger conferences simultaneously.”

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre was the venue for the Australian High Commission Malaysia’s “Australia Rocks!”-themed Australia Day reception, held in January.

The day Australia came to town

The seventh Australia Day event held at the Centre and by far the largest, the reception was attended by more than 1000 guests from various sectors including government, politics, business,

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

education, arts, defence and security, as well as the diplomatic corps and members of the Australian community living in Malaysia.

Highlights of the event included a 1.8m tall ice sculpture depicting some of Australia’s most iconic images including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a kangaroo and koala, and a gigantic 25m by 7m curved screen displaying classic Australian scenes.

DIARY DATES

Meetings bigger than ever Now in its 18th year, New Zealand business events tradeshow Meetings is debuting at the Auckland ASB Showgrounds next month, with organiser Conference & Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) taking advantage of the new, larger venue to expand the exhibition.

For the first time Meetings will be staged across two pavilions, with 18 regions of New Zealand and more than 180 exhibitors on show.

Amongst the new features at this year’s exhibition is The Luxury Collection, which will showcase the high end of the New Zealand business events market with everything from

boutique lodges to luxury yachts.

Confirmed exhibitors include Sofitel Luxury Hotels; Eagles Nest in the Bay of Islands; Peppers Carrington Resort in Northland; The Museum Art Hotel in Wellington; The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs; The Farm at Cape Kidnappers; Matakauri Lodge, Queenstown; Blanket Bay Lodge, near Queenstown; Over the Top Helicopter Company; Touch of Spice; Simon Gault’s The Nourish Group of restaurants, and Pacific Jemm, a luxury Queenstown cruiser.

Huka Lodge, long recognised as one of New Zealand’s most aspirational retreats and one of the world’s top hotels is one of

the properties joining the first Luxury Collection, with business development manager Maureen Bayley saying they are delighted to be part of the showcase from its inception.

"Huka Lodge is ideally suited to the Luxury Collection, with our discreet location and legendary service for corporate events, management retreats and private meetings to bespoke product launches," she says.

Meetings is also taking its social program to a whole new level this year, according to Meetings event manager Jeanette Stanton.

“Our sponsors are pulling out all the stops to make this a truly

spectacular welcome event,” she says. “We’re very excited about what is in store.”

The welcome function, hosted

by Pullman Auckland Hotel, will take place in the hotel’s impressive Princes Ballroom on Tuesday, June 17.

Pullman Auckland Hotel director of meetings and events, Regina Yhonjan, says her team is excited to play host to this event.

“It is a privilege to host the Meetings welcome function this year,” she says. “We are all very much looking forward to interacting with all the conference and events organisers and showcasing our unique Pullman style.”

In addition to the welcome function, a new “mix and mingle” networking event is happening on the exhibition floor after appointments on Wednesday, while the Meetings dinner, hosted at Viaduct Events Centre on Thursday, June 19, promises to be an evening not to be missed.

Meetings 2014 will be held at the Auckland ABS Showgrounds on June 18-19. For more information visit www.meetings.co.nz.

Famil program showcases best of the best Australian hosted buyers at Meetings will get the chance to take an in-depth look at some of New Zealand’s most popular business events destinations thanks to a familiarisation program that has been organised for the weekend before Meetings.

Amongst the regions offering weekend tours are Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington, Queenstown and Christchurch & Canterbury.

A popular choice is the Hamilton and Waikato Convention Bureau’s famil which takes in their region’s highlights, including a tour to Hobbiton, which featured in the Hobbit movies and is the only purpose-built permanent movie set in the world.

“These familiarisation program are a chance for buyers to experience first-hand what is on offer outside of the main cities,” says Meetings event manager Jeanette Stanton.

“They will be great fun but also a great chance to experience the beauty and charm of regional New Zealand.’’

Clockwise from bottom: Huka Lodge is exhibiting as part of The Luxury Collection; buyers get the chance to meet with exhibitors; touch of Spice aims to impress; Hobbiton will be included in the Hamilton and Waikato famil.

38 Convention & Incentive Marketing, May 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

Inspire EX promises to provide an interactive experience for buyers.

Some say you can’t mix business with pleasure.

Let’s see.

The business of meetings New to the Australian events industry calendar in 2014 is Inspire EX, which will be held at the Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island from August 18-19.

Drawing on the best elements of previous shows, the Australian Business Events Expo (ABEE) and Sydney’s Event Showcase, organisers of the new tradeshow say that it will bring together the best exhibitors in the business and special events industry and provide interactive zones, unique experiences and networking events. Entertainers, musicians and performers will be on hand to demonstrate firsthand the experiences that make an event sparkle.

“The way events are bought, pitched and produced has dramatically changed, and so too have the needs of the event buyer,” says event director Pascal Ibrahim.

“We are focused on developing an experience for buyers that demonstrates the industry’s creativity and business acumen; our fresh approaches, and capacity to deliver a return on investment.”

The event is expected to attract more than 6000 buyers from the corporate and special events world and is a great opportunity for events organisers to learn from world-class event professionals, compare the latest event innovations and network with peers and suppliers.

Visitors are offered an extensive range of presentations from worldclass speakers, including John Daly, often called the “guru of special events design”. His presentation will inspire and demonstrate the benefits of new and innovative ways to create events. He will draw on his experiences producing events for 25 per cent of the Top 50 Fortune 100 companies and some of the world’s bestknown celebrities including Tom Cruise, David Beckham, Will Smith and Oprah Winfrey.

The show’s VIP Buyer Program seeks to match attendees who are actively seeking new event solutions for their business with exhibitors who can fulfil their needs.

For more information visit www.inspireex.com.au.

Sydney . Melbourne . Brisbane . Cairns . Port Douglas . Palm Cove . Bunker Bay . Auckland

J O I N O U R G L O B A L L O YA L T Y P RO G R A M AT ACCO R H OT E L S . CO M

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

EVENT REPORT

The 10th Australian Peptides Association Conference, September 8-13, 2013

Island getaway Offering a top notch program, an exotic location and great value for money, the 10th Australian Peptides Association Conference, held in Penang, Malaysia, was one of its most successful yet.

When the organising committee for the not-for-profit Australian Peptides Association Conference decided they wanted to do something special for their 10th anniversary event in September 2013, they decided to hold the event on the island of Penang in Malaysia.

The first time the biannual event had been held outside of Australia, the five-day conference was held at The Shangri-La Golden Sands hotel on picturesque Batu Feringgi beach.

While the decision to take the event offshore threw up a number of challenges, the event attracted a record 250 delegates from around globe, with analysis showing a marked

increase in attendance from Europe and Asia due to the obvious cost savings in flights and time compared to travelling to Australia.

There was a significant increase of 20 per cent of attendees travelling from Europe.

With Malaysia offering exceptional affordability and value for money, organisers were able to stretch the budget to provide a not-to-be-forgotten experience for the special anniversary conference.

To find out more CIM spoke with co-chair, Adjunct Professor and head of Clinical Biomarker Discovery and Validation, Monash University, Eduardo Nice, and conference organiser, Mike Pickford from ASN Events.

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

CIM: Can you tell us a little about the conference?

EN: The Australian Peptide Conference is held every two years to bring together the top researchers in the field, students and company and biotech representatives to discuss their latest scientific results. This, of course, helps promote Australian science to the international community. A new satellite meeting was also incorporated on the first day – Proteomics Forum, Malaysia – which was made possible because of the specific interests of colleagues in local universities.

CIM: Why did the association decide on Penang over an Australian destination?

MP: ASN Events' brief from the client is to hold the meeting on a warm island, whenever possible. As an association meeting, the delegates essentially pay their own way so the destination has to be affordable. The 9th meeting was successful but providing an affordable new option in Australia was becoming increasingly challenging. The committee was receptive to the innovative idea of taking their meeting offshore to Penang because it met all the selection conditions. The strong Australian dollar definitely helped that decision.

CIM: What were some of the challenges involved in organising the conference?

Service a nd cateri ng at ho La Golde st venue n Sands , The Sh hotel at were exc angriBatu Feri eptional, nggi bea a lt Mike Pic hough c ch, onferenc kford say e organis s “venue surprised er s ta ff were a at the am little ount of b delegate eer an A could co ustralian nsume a t a socia l functio n”!

gether nce brings to ptide Confere Pe n r ia he al tr ot us The A , as well as ers in the field ch e Scripps ar Th se re om p fr to the Phil Dawson, r so es of Pr . ir.

Cha stakeholders S was Session itute in the U Research Inst

Associate Professor Richard Payne was named the winner of the inaugural Tregear Award for Outstanding Contributions to Peptide Chemistry.

The award was named in honour of well-respected Australian scientist Professor Geoff Tregear, a pioneer in the field of peptide research.

The conference in cluded a vibrant social program, w Malaysian culture ith and food fully in corporated into th feel of the confer e ence. A highlight was an offsite di at The Golden Th nner ai Seafood Village .

MP: One of the first challenges was to create a package that could be sold to delegates, This became more straightforward after early offers of support from Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) and the Penang Tourism Board and the securing of a fully inclusive package for the delegates from the Penang Shangri-La sales team that was way more affordable than 2011.

Other challenges came simply from cultural differences. For instance, the venue staff were a little surprised by the amount of beer an Australian delegate could consume at a social function whereas we were challenged by the wording of the initial proposed contract which was far less flexible than we’ve become used to from similar venues

within Australia. However solutions were always found and the result was seamless for the delegates.

CIM: Are there any ideas or initiatives that you put in place for the event that you’re particularly proud of?

MP: The really big idea was to go offshore.

It had to be sold to regular participants used to meeting in Australia, maintain its Australian identity and be affordable – and it was. Going offshore will become a regular option for the society.

EN: The committee decided to award the inaugural Tregear Award at this conference (in honour of a well respected Australian scientist, Professor Geoff Tregear, who was a pioneer in the field of peptide

A RIVERSIDE EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER!

CIM: How were you able to measure the success of the conference?

EN: The success of the conference was measured by the number of delegates and the extremely positive feedback we have had at all levels.

CIM: Would you hold the conference offshore again?

MP: We have had such a great experience offshore that it’s something we will definitely do again. We have been spoilt by the great service levels, the overall cost and the attraction of higher delegate numbers that Malaysia has afforded us.

Add a dash of riverfront glamour to your next meeting or event.

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chemistry) to an up-and-coming, talented young investigator.

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www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, May 2014 41

VENUE UPDATE

Hawthorn Arts Centre partners with Epicure Epicure has been named venue caterer for the refurbished Hawthorn Arts Centre in Melbourne. The company will offer catering for corporate meetings and events held at the Centre, which features eight versatile spaces able to accommodate groups from 10 to 600. The spaces include the Main Hall, ideal

for banquets of up to 350 guests; the Mayor’s Room, which offers direct access to the Portico Balcony; and The Chamber function room. Conferences held at the venue can have use of multiple break-out rooms and have the option of holding their welcome reception in the same location as the main event.

News in brief QT for Canberra QT Hotels & Resorts has opened QT Canberra at Canberra's iconic Lakeside hotel in New Acton. The 205 guest rooms and suites are ideal for business travellers with the hotel also offering a number of exclusive retreats with secluded spaces suitable to hold private meetings. The hotel also features a concept restaurant called Capitol Bar &Grill created by QT Hotels creative food director, Robert Marchetti.

Ritz-Carlton to hit WA Set to open in 2018, Perth’s planned Ritz-Carlton hotel will occupy a prime waterfront position, featuring expansive views of the Swan River, Kings Park and the Botanical Gardens. Located next to the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre the project will also feature 1.5km of promenades designed to create a destination experience that will attract an estimated four million visitors a year.

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

New éLan for Darwin Darwin’s $120 million élan Soho Suites will open in July 2014. One floor of the property will be dedicated to conferencing and events, with the area available to be used as one large space or broken up into seven boardroom-style venues. The largest venue will have capacity for 250 guests banquet-style, 400 delegates theatre-style, and more than 380 for cocktails.

Yarra Valley conference update Best Western has opened a new 4-star boutique hotel in the Yarra Valley, Victoria. Best Western Yarra Valley offers a custom built conference facility including seven meetings and event spaces. The Yarra Room holds up to 80 people with direct access to the outdoor deck overlooking the Yarra River. The room can extend out to include the Oscar’s on the Yarra dining room, allowing it to cater for up to 150 guests.

Chedi Sakala opens in Bali The newly opened Chedi Sakala in Nusa Dua, Bali, features purpose-built facilities for large-scale conferences. The largest venue is the 630sqm Chedi Ballroom which can accommodate up to 400 people, or be divided into as many as six smaller rooms for plenty of breakout space. The Batur and Agung rooms each hold up to 175 people and can be combined to double the capacity. The hotel overlooks Tanjung Benoa Beach, which can also be set up to provide a space for up to 200 guests, while the poolside area is spacious enough to entertain 350 for a buffetstyle reception.

Double Hilton for Perth Hilton Worldwide has announced it will open two new hotels in Perth.

DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Waterfront will be located on the Swan River and is anticipated to open in mid-2016. DoubleTree by Hilton Fremantle will overlook Princess May Park, and is set to open in 2017.

Sentosa Singapore upgrades The Singapore Resort & Spa Sentosa, managed

by Accor, will be unveiled as Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa in the second half of 2015.

The refurbishment of the hotel will cover accommodation, public areas, spa facilities and conference rooms. There will be two refurbished ballrooms and a brand new pre-function room for business events.

Aloft debuts in Australia Starwood Hotels will debut its loft brand in Australia when it opens a new hotel in Perth in 2016. Aloft Perth Rivervale will see 224 modern loft-style rooms with facilities suitable for business travellers. Located east of Perth's CBD in Rivervale, the hotel will be part of a redevelopment project that will transform riverfront land into a commercial and residential precinct.

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, May 2014 43

PROFILE

Food philosopher Tony Panetta’s journey from peeling spuds in his parent’s shed to running the kitchen at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre is defined by a love of local produce, writes Sheridan Randall.

“What I’ve done coming here is bring the small mentality to a large venue,” he says.

“I have encouraged my staff to push those boundaries and start thinking outside the square. The menu guide is just a guide. Every day is different. We really focus on what it looks like on the plate at the end and what it tastes like.”

Every day Panetta walks all 97 metres of the kitchen to say hello to his staff before retreating back to his office, which sits in the corner of the kitchen – still not close enough to the action for his liking, with plans to move it right into the middle next year.

“It’s not about looking at staff and telling them what to do it’s more about involvement,” he says.

With Australia now squarely on the global culinary map as a high achiever, Panetta is well aware that for many of the international delegates, the food they taste at the MCEC will often be the one they remember.

The kitchen at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC) is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Run by executive chef Tony Panetta and his team of some 14 chefs, 70 kitchen hands and around 20 casual staff, and utilising a system of conveyor belts, the MCEC kitchen is as comfortable pumping out a breakfast for 20 as it is a dinner for 3000. And with up to 300 events a month to cater for, the kitchen gets through some 2.2 tonnes of beef tenderloin and 5.5 tonnes of chicken breast a year.

Panetta’s love and passion for food come from his mother, but his work ethic was cemented by the long hours peeling spuds in his parents’ shop as an eight year old while his mates were romping carefree outside. What may have seemed a cruel and unusual punishment to the young Panetta’s mind has since blossomed into a cast iron work ethic that has seen him lead the culinary renaissance at MCEC over the last few years. Being responsible for functions up to 4800 people might burden some people, but not Tony. For him it is simply “an honour to be able to do it”.

Working his way through Lygon and Brunswick Street, Panetta eventually landed the job of head chef at Aitkin Hill, a boutique conference centre where he “developed a lot of my cooking skills and knowledge of how this place [MCEC] runs”.

“I thrive on it,” he says. “We want to showcase Victorian produce to our guests. I could tell you the name of the guy that grows the herbs. I did originally come from a smaller background, where you had a point of contact [with suppliers and producers] and that’s what I’ve tried to build up. We really work with our suppliers.

“We constantly get emails every day about what is in stock from our smaller suppliers. It’s almost like we have a plot of land out there and they grow it for us – it’s great.”

As with all things in life it often comes back to our parents, and Panetta is no exception, with the MCEC’s homemade pickled green tomatoes turning up regularly on the charcuterie boards.

“No one used them [green tomatoes] for years, yet mum and dad used to pickle them, and they are one of my favourites,” he says.

“So for the last two years we have made 300 kilos each year. We buy the green tomatoes which are dead stock, they [the suppliers] get revenue for it and we get massive kudos because people look and go ‘wow that’s awesome’.

“It’s all about the chef’s imagination and how much effort you want to put in. One of my apprentices said something to me 10 years ago which has always stuck with me. ‘It’s too hard not to be good at it’.

If you going to make that effort, why not go the extra 2 per cent to make it perfect.”

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MEETING PEOPLE

Beverley Parker has been appointed director of business development for the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney. Parker has previously been the executive director of sales and marketing for the Dockside Group and worked in senior executive roles with Accor Asia Pacific and the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Crowne Plaza Terrigal has announced two new appointments with Lachlan Walker (pictured) named as the new general manager and Ruth Mason assuming the position of Crowne meetings director.

Walker brings international experience with the Park Hyatt and Four Seasons to the role. Mason has more than 10 years of experience, most recently in Abu Dhabi.

Perth Convention Bureau (PCB) has announced the appointment of Caitlin Craig to the position of director of community relations. Previously senior business development manager at PCB, Craig has a background in tourism with more than six years at the Bureau. The new community relations division will take effect in July 2014.

The Business Events Council of Australia has announced the appointment of Matt Hingerty as its new independent chairman.

Hingerty brings a wealth of expertise in leadership and political advocacy to the role. He is currently chief executive of Barton Deakin Government Relations and a former chief of staff for Joe Hockey in the Howard Government.

Roxanne Hopkins has recently commenced in the role of director of marketing at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

Hopkins has more than 15 years marketing experience including events, retail and not-for-profit organisations as well as destination marketing. Most recently she worked for Brisbane Marketing as director – marketing and events.

Hilton on the Park-Melbourne has welcomed Andrew Nisbet as its new general manager.

Nisbet brings 16 years of Hilton management experience to the role, most recently as general manager at Hilton Queenstown and Kawarau Hotel where he spent three years. Prior to this he was based at Hilton Brisbane as director of operations.

Adelaide Convention Centre (ACC) has appointed Annabel Norris as research and business development representative ahead of the opening of its $350 million redevelopment.

Norris most recently spent 20 years at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre as director of international sales. Based in Sydney, Norris will work alongside ACC’s sales and research team.

Andrew Williams has been appointed chief executive of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia.

Williams, who has been acting in the role since January 2014, previously held the role of chief financial officer for Voyages. He has more than 20 years international hotel and tourism experience in both hotel operations and investment.

Thai business event professional Khun Kris Srisatin has launched her own venture, Stream Events Asia, to offer buyers a boutique destination management company option for Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Srisatin has held senior positions in Thailand with Diethelm Events, Pacific World and more recently with Destination Asia based in the Bangkok office.

Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley has appointed Robert Coates to the role of general manager. He brings with him more than two decades of international and domestic hotel experience and will continue his role as area general manager, overseeing the operations of four hotels within NSW and ACT.

Christopher Ehmann has been appointed general manager of the Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa. Ehmann has more than two decades of hospitality management experience in Europe, the Middle East and Australasia. He most recently launched the Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok and DoubleTree by Hilton, Sukhumvit Bangkok.

Ramada Couran Cove Island Resort has welcomed a new chief executive, John Muntz, with the appointment coming shortly after he commenced work at Ramada Couran Cove as director of operations in November 2013.

The Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart has welcomed Natasha Stagg to the role of conference and events sales manager. Stagg previously worked as sponsorship and exhibition manager for Leishman Associates for the past four years.

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, May 2014 45

PCO ASSOCIATION

Politics in the business events arena Last year’s Federal Election favoured the Coalition, and with the much debated “state of the economy”, there were no direct financial wins for the business events sector, irrespective of Australia’s declining global ranking or increasing competition from our neighbours in the Asia Pacific region and even the Middle East.

However, one line from The Coalition’s Policy for Tourism 2013 are significant: “We will also provide consular and ministerial backing for bids for key international conferences”.

Tourism, and therefore business events, now falls under the Trade and Investment portfolio with Andrew Robb the Minister responsible.

While some still squabble over the fact that the word “tourism” is not in the Minister’s title, I have been on the record as saying that the alignment with trade and investment is a far better outcome for the business events industry than being lumped in with resources and energy.

With the new Coalition Government in office now for six months the industry has seen a number of positive outcomes.

The Coalition Government said it would not proceed with the $2000 Self-education Expenses Cap proposed by the previous Labor Government.

The Government honoured TQual grant funding to the Business Events Council of Australia announced prior to the election. The Federal grant of $110,000, matched dollar-fordollar by industry, is for vital research to better understand the economic benefit of the business events industry.

On the cusp of the Coalition’s first 100 days in office, Minister Robb met with a broad range of tourism industry representatives at the inaugural Australian Tourism Roundtable (ATR) held at the end of 2013. Agreed common policy positions of ATR participants as discussed with the Minister were tax and red tape, visa reforms, skills and labour, marketing

(including support for international business event bid opportunities), and crossgovernment coordination.

Minister Robb announced his commitment to the Tourism 2020 goal of doubling overnight expenditure to between $115 and $140 billion by 2020, acknowledging tourism as one of the nation’s top five strengths.

The Government announced a change to the visa requirements of Chinese business visitors who will now be eligible to apply for a three year multiple entry visa, increasing the prospect of repeat visits to Australia and providing flow-on economic benefits to the tourism sector.

It was also announced that the SmartGate would be extended to all eligible Singapore nationals, making them the sixth nation to use this selfservice processing technology when entering Australia.

Minister Robb’s Chief of Staff, Zoe McKenzie, and Tourism Advisor, Luke Achterstraat, attended the Asia-Pacific

46 Convention & Incentive Marketing, May 2014 www.cimmagazine.com

Incentives & Meetings Expo 2014 to gain a better understanding of the business events industry and Australia’s global competition.

Most recently, the Minister for Trade and Investment and the Minister for Small Business announced a $50 million boost to the export market development grant scheme to help small- to mediumsized businesses reach their export potential. The scheme helps tourism businesses and approved bodies by refunding up to 50 per cent of their export market expenditure.

Changes to the scheme also see the eligibility threshold of expenses reduced from $20,000 to $15,000.

With the next election only 2.5 years away I urge you to get involved and help drive policy into the future through your relevant business events association.

Andrew Hiebl is the executive director of the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux Inc.

Event technology through the years At the recent PCO Association Conference, I had the pleasure of chairing an interactive session with a diverse group of event planners. The topic was geared around the future technology needs of the industry.

With more than 27 years of experience developing technology for the meetings industry, I started with a trip down “memory lane”.

An old adage says that you can’t plan your future without understanding the past. When I started in the industry in 1987, IBM memory typewriters and telex machines were being phased out. Fax machines were the latest technology, and computers were very expensive, unreliable, large and provided limited functionality. Despite the challenges however, event planners were quick to adopt this new technology.

In 1992 came the fax modem, a revolutionary device that let event planners create automated, personalised confirmation letters and instantly fax them to attendees, right from their PC. In 1996, the first Internet registrations arrived.

They were very crude compared to today’s offerings and lacked real-time inventory capabilities.

Again, the meeting planners

of the ’90s embraced this new technology with a view to improving their events.

From about 2000, online registration with real-time inventory management was mainstream and event planners were looking for more ways to improve productivity with technology and offer greater experiences to attendees.

E-commerce became very mainstream in the early 2000s and website content management systems started becoming popular.

In the last few years, we have seen an explosion of technology geared specifically at the meetings industry. Some technologies have been very successful and others have dramatically failed to deliver.

All of this technology choice has created confusion amongst meeting planners, who still want to adopt new technology that will improve their events.

During the PCO Association conference session, one of the most widely discussed topics was cloud versus an on-premises installation. With the strong competition between Microsoft, Amazon and Google in this space, and the vast improvements in performance, it is now essential for event

planners to have a strategy to move to the cloud. Many issues such as security, redundancy, PCI compliance and performance no longer become the meeting planner’s problem.

Another topic discussed was the need to include a mobile app as part of the standard event deliverables. The group defined their perfect app as “easy to set up, fast for attendees, have voting/feedback capabilities, session planning, push notifications, social media integrations and the ability to have branding/sponsor advertising”. The app also needs to be able to run stand alone at times and not be dependent on the venue’s internet.

Other technology requirements

PCO ASSOCIATION NEWS PCO Conference 2014 The meetings sector continues to expand in our part of the world, with the addition of many new venues both publicly and privately funded. While “bricks and mortar capacity” is growing rapidly, the nature of meeting and event design, delivery, marketing and management is in a state of transition.

The communication cycle is now a "conference to conference" activity and involves many mediums. Delegates want to be more engaged in the process both

before and after the event.

Convenors and event owner’s expectations are changing, along with those of sponsors and exhibitors, so how do event managers accommodate and identify these changes?

At this year’s PCO Conference we will examine the relationships and interdependence between venues, transport, delegates, convenors, managers, technologies, governments and clients. How are the expectations of each group changing? How will we build the next generation of successful meetings?

of the meeting planners discussed at the session were a slick looking, mobile enabled registration site, use of QR codes, clear and concise reports that are easy to create, and a system that has a powerful backend that can handle the spikes in activity typical in an event’s lifecycle.

It seems that meeting planners are still passionate about the use of technology and are keen to adopt to new technologies however, they are looking to the technology suppliers to take the confusion away.

Trevor Gardiner is the chief executive of Centium Software.

He was a speaker at the 2013 PCO National Conference.

Join us in Canberra from November 30 – December 2, 2014, and help answer the questions!

Jennifer Milwood retires After five years as the PCO Association’s general manager, Jennifer Milward has announced her retirement.

“I will be leaving the PCO Association with a real sense of accomplishment,” she says.

“Watching the Association grow into what it is today – a healthy, strong organisation, supported by a management team with a real sense of purpose, has been very satisfying.”

www.cimmagazine.com Convention & Incentive Marketing, May 2014 47

THE

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The world’s most significant business event is coming to Brisbane in 2014.

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