HQ32 - Melbourne supplement

HEADQUARTERS Destination Report Melbourne is a special edition of HeadQuarters Magazine - April 2009, published by Meeting Media Company (Belgium) - www.hqmagazine.eu - press@meetingmedia.eu

MELBOURNE in Full Swing

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> INTRODUCTION

MELBOURNE LIVING THE GOOD LIFE LET’S BE HONEST. THE VICTORIAN CAPITAL DOESN’T REALLY NEED PROMOTION. YOU SIMPLY HAVE TO GO THERE AND THE WORK IS DONE. IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO BE ENTHRALLED WITH THE WAY SHE IS, A BUSTLING, VIBRANT CITY WITH A RELAXED FEEL OF FRIENDLINESS TO IT. AS A CONGRESS DESTINATION, MELBOURNE’S GOT ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THE MEETING PLANNER CAN WISH FOR, FROM SPACIOUS CONFERENCE HOTELS TO STUNNING, VERY SPECIAL VENUES. AND FOR THOSE WHO ALREADY COMMENT ON THE FACT THAT AUSTRALIA IS TOO FAR, YOU’RE COMPLETELY MISTAKEN. IT’S ONLY TWO MEALS, TWO MOVIES, ONE MAGAZINE… AND A LITTLE BIT OF SLEEP AWAY. REPORT RÉMI DÉVÉ AND MARCEL A.M. VISSERS

At the kind invitation of the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB), Marcel and I embarked last February on our very first trip to Australia, let alone Melbourne. Right before and a little bit after the AIME fair, we discovered a city that was voted ‘one of the most livable cities in the world’. We could easily understand why: in addition to being on the seaside, with four distinct, beautiful seasons, this cosmopolitan city - one of the

best examples of Victorian architecture in the world - is bustling with cultural activities. In Melbourne, there are more artists, designers, painters, actors, singers, etc., than anywhere in Australia. This is just to give you an idea of what you can expect.

As a meetings destination, Melbourne is on the map as never before. Within a five square kilometre area, the city offers five - really

soon six - major convention hotels, a diverse range of multi-purpose venues and the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), whose brand new extension will open in July making it the largest facility of this kind in Australia. And of course there are the people working at the convention bureau who will do everything they can to make your event run smoothly. The MCVB is indeed part of the BestCities Global Alliance, a convention bureaux network dedicated to the delivery of the world’s best service experience for the meetings industry.

As Tim Holding, Minister for Tourism in Victoria, puts it: ‘All this reinforces Melbourne as a creative city, where ideas are exchanged, where the latest thinking sees light of day.’

And isn’t that precisely what the meetings industry is about? Let’s find out what Melbourne has to offer!

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> MCVB: INTERVIEW

SANDRA CHIPCHASE THE DRIVING FORCE OF THE MCVB SANDRA CHIPCHASE IS INSPIRING. NOT ONLY WHEN SHE’S DANCING BOLLYWOOD-STYLE AT THE AIME WELCOME PARTY, BUT ALSO WHEN SHE’S TALKING ABOUT HER ROLE AS THE CEO OF THE MELBOURNE CONVENTION + VISITORS BUREAU. WE MET HER RIGHT AFTER THE END OF AIME AND, WITHOUT SHOWING THE SLIGHTEST SYMPTOM OF FATIGUE AND WITH A COLORFUL SENSE OF HUMOR, SHE EXPLAINED WHY MELBOURNE IS SUCH A GREAT CITY AS AN ASSOCIATION CONGRESS DESTINATION.

HQ: AIME has just finished. Has the fair made you happy?

Sandra Chipchase: I’m always happy because I live in Melbourne! Right now I’m delighted because the feedback has been so positive: people had a good time here in Melbourne, they obviously did good business, we had lots of comments on the quality of the hosted buyers, and on the professionalism of the media. From the buyers’ perspective, I was told they were impressed by the exhibitors’ efforts to do business differently in this delicate time of crisis. Which makes us really optimistic about the future.

HQ: We understand the MCVB has a very special relationship with Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre…

Sandra Chipchase: The MCVB and the MCEC have a partnership which I think is unlike any other in the world. Usually convention centres and convention bureaus can have a kind of elder brother/younger sister relationship: one has the money, while the other has the marketing strategy. Here

WE’RE NOW GAINING A WORLDWIDE REPUTATION AS A GREAT CONVENTION DESTINATION WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROFESSIONAL PROVIDERS IN AN EXCITING CITY FULL OF ACTIVITIES we’re equals: our two boards, our chairmen are very open to new ways of doing things.

When you get that, you can build the trust, let each other know everything: with transparent information, you can deliver results and build a portfolio of activities that will be successful.

HQ: The MCVB is quite a big convention bureau.

Sandra Chipchase: We have a staff of 38 individuals, two of them are based overseas in Singapore and Hong Kong. They’re all specialists in their roles. All of them are in love with the destination they promote and are

UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL CONGRESSES IN MELBOURNE World Congress in Internal Medicine 2010 (WCIM) - 4,000 delegates - Global Conference of the International Federation on Ageing - IFA 2010 - 2,000 delegates - Worldcon - World Science Fiction Convention (WSFC) 2010 - 3,000 delegates - International Conference of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - IUBMB - 2,000 delegates - World Congress of the World Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (WSPID) 2011 - 3,000 delegates - International Council of Nurses (ICN) 25th Quadrennial Congress 2013 - 6,000 delegates - International Congress of Pediatrics (ICP) 2013 - 5,000 delegates - 22nd World Diabetes Congress 2013 - 12,500 delegates

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> MCVB: INTERVIEW

AIME, the Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo, is organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions on behalf of the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau, the owner of the show. Last February at AIME 09, exhibitor numbers rose to 868. Attendance figures were up by 9.6% on last year, with a record 3,584 trade visitors, including 467 hosted buyers, visiting the two-day event. Exhibiting companies represented 50 countries with 43% of exhibitors from Australia, 9% from New Zealand/Pacific, 32% from Asia and 16% international. Hosted buyers represented 25 countries, with more than 340 from Australasia, 70 from Asia and around 40 from other international destinations.

committed to being a part of a high-performance team. With very different personalities, they’re still all focused on success. I personally like to think that we’re a team of what I call ‘relaxed professionals’.

HQ: In many cities, we sometimes feel there is a discrepancy between the local or national authorities and the aspirations of the convention bureau. It doesn’t seem to be the case here.

Sandra Chipchase: There is indeed a very specific plan of working closely with the government: they need to understand what we do because we can help them achieve their policy objectives. If we understand that, for example, they have a focus of environment, we can focus our activities on bidding for environmental conferences and bring world experts here. What we try to do is look at government policies and what the government wishes to achieve to help them make that happen, through all sorts of events and through bringing strategic partners to the table.

HQ: Australia - and Melbourne - seem closer than before. How has this happened?

Sandra Chipchase: We’ve managed to secure some of the largest and most prestigious conferences in the world. The fact that we have raised our profile and successfully run and staged major events in the past helps word of mouth to work in a positive way.

We’re now gaining a worldwide reputation as a great convention destination with stateof-the-art infrastructure and professional

providers in an exciting city full of activity.

HQ: Could you tell us a little bit about your marketing strategy?

Sandra Chipchase: We have a number of programmes in place, especially in the digital area. But in the end everything is about building the brand of the destination, case study information and getting it out to the market.

The research we do is extensive: we measure everything, we do surveys so we can improve our product and services, identify market needs, boost delegate attendance. It really is business to business marketing: we invest in research so our marketing message matches the needs of our customers. The idea is to make people excited about the destination and the conference to be held here. We basically try to get more messages to more people through more channels more often.

HQ: Is there something that you are particularly proud of?

Sandra Chipchase: I’m very proud of the fact that the convention centre cost 370 million dollars and we have won over 400 million dollars worth of business to date and we still have 3 months before it opens! We have increased the economic impact per staff member from 5,1 million three years ago to 7,1 million today.

HQ: In what way does the MCVB cater to associations?

Sandra Chipchase: Although 80% of associations are headquartered in Europe,

their members travel from all over the world.

Everybody has a different perception of Melbourne: you really need to profile each association, where they have been and what they like to do. That takes time and expertise, and we’re constantly building a marketing message to match that.

HQ: So the future of Melbourne as a congress destination is bright!

Sandra Chipchase: Definitely. In Melbourne, our offer is unlike any other in Australia, but also in the Southern hemisphere. Every survey proves it: people love it here, it’s an interesting, vibrant, very seasonal city that works really well for all contingencies, with great government support, wonderful products and services, and a extraordinary team at the MCVB!

In Australia: Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau - Head Office tel : +61 3 9693 3333 mcvb@mcvb.com.au www.mcvb.com.au In Europe: Janet Sealy Partnership Tel: +44 1 753 481 540 europe@mcvb.com.au or janet@janetsealypartnership.com

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> GREEN MELBOURNE

GOING ‘GREEN’ IN MELBOURNE EASIER THAN EVER

Yarra River

Melbourne Royal Botanic Garden

FROM WORLD-FIRST SIX STAR GREEN STAR ENERGY RATINGS FOR ITS LEADING VENUES AND FACILITIES TO AWARD-WINNING CSR PROGRAMS, FROM DIVERSE GREEN EXPERIENCES, TO PROVIDING ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO BOOK AN ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE EVENT, MELBOURNE REALLY IS THE DESTINATION TO DELIVER A GREEN EVENT. IN FACT PLANNING A GREEN EVENT IN MELBOURNE SEEMS TO BE SIMPLE. BUT HOW SHOULD YOU DO IT? HERE ARE A FEW TIPS. According to CEO of the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau, Sandra Chipchase, a commitment to going green by Melbourne’s hotels, transport providers, venues, and caterers is seeing the city lead Australia on the environmentally responsible front: ‘One of Melbourne’s biggest challenges from a national and international perspective over the last year has been to meet and exceed the Business Events industry’s rightful demand for greener events.’

To do this, MCVB has created a series of tools to assist in booking events with a low carbon

impact. These have included the Melbourne’s ‘Green Credentials’ Report, which lists the environmentally friendly initiatives of leading Business Events suppliers. From hotel and transport providers, to venues and caterers, the ‘Green Credentials’ Report provides those booking an event in Melbourne with information on the Business Events suppliers which are leading on the green front.

MCVB is also about to launch an Events Carbon Calculator - an online tool which will allow event planners to calculate and offset the emissions of events held in Melbourne.

GREEN MELBOURNE HIGHLIGHTS ✓ Green Hotels: The City of Melbourne’s “Savings in the City” Program which helps hotels cut energy, water and waste, has resulted in many green ‘savings’. ✓ Green Transport: Melbourne has an excellent transport network which includes low carbon impact transportation such as wind-powered trams and the Skybus Super Shuttle - Melbourne’s airport/city shuttle. ✓ Green Venues: Melbourne’s new Convention Centre is leading the world on the environmental front; it is the first and only Convention Centre in the world to be awarded a Six Star Green Star Environmental energy rating. ✓ Green Leisure: Victoria’s diverse natural attractions range from desert, mountain, alpine and coastal to riverine and rainforest landscapes. Victoria also has the greatest biodiversity, relative to land size in Australia.

HOW TO PLAN A GREEN EVENT IN MELBOURNE ✓ Consult MCVB’s Melbourne’s ‘Green Credentials’ Report for green Business Events suppliers: www.mcvb.com.au ✓ Look for the green logo on the ‘Find a Supplier’ section of the MCVB website - this identifies contributors to MCVB’s Melbourne ‘Green Credentials’ Report ✓ Consult the ‘Green Check-list for Business Events’ in the Melbourne Planner’s Guide: www.mcvb.com.au/plannersguide

And as if this was not enough, in 2008 it set a new benchmark for exhibitions in Australia by running AIME 2008 as a Climate Neutral™ event. This initiative contributed to AIME being awarded Exhibition of the Year for two years running at the Victorian Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) Awards. And because an award doesn’t like to be on its own, MCVB also got a Corporate Social Responsibility Award at the Victorian MEA Awards!

Last but not least is the new Melbourne Convention Centre which has also been awarded for its environmental achievements and on which I write extensively in the following pages.

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> MCEC

THE MELBOURNE CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE IS ONE OF A KIND

team of dedicated employees - aptly named the ‘M Green team’ - has even been created: their task is to come up with fresh initiatives and new strategies to continue to benchmark and progress MCEC’s environmental performance. To assist clients in greening their events at the MCEC, the M Green team actively work with them recommending waste management, green power and sustainable food menu options and solutions.

As for technology, the MCEC has nothing to blush about. As Frank Mohren, MCEC director of operations, puts it: ‘We have the opportunity to go two steps ahead, so we do!’ The most sophisticated but simple to use audio visual, communications and information technology available has been installed into every meeting room of the new convention centre: everything has literally been built in and ‘it’s almost as easy as to play a DVD in the comfort of your home,’ comments Frank Mohren.

COLORS, WOW, SPACE, WOW, DAYLIGHT: THESE ARE THE FIRST WORDS THAT COME TO MIND WHEN YOU VISIT THE NEW MELBOURNE CONVENTION CENTRE, DUE TO OPEN FOR BUSINESS IN JULY. IF YOU THOUGHT CONVENTION CENTRES CAN ONLY LOOK LIKE SHOE BOXES, THINK OUTSIDE THE SQUARE. WITH ITS SPANISH ORANGE, ITS SPITFIRE RED, ITS SPACIOUS VOLUMES, ITS IMPRESSIVE PLENARY HALL - AND THE GREENEST COMMITMENT EVER WITH ITS RIGHTFULLY NAMED M GREEN TEAM, THE MELBOURNE CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE (MCEC) IS DEFINITELY ONE OF A KIND. Ideally located right in the heart of Melbourne, the new Melbourne Convention Centre majestically rises on the edge of the Yarra River. Thanks to its stunning 18-metre tall glass façade, you can basically see the city from any place inside the building - a personal favorite of MCEC Chief Executive Leigh Harry. Also striking is the fact that the facility is accessible from pretty much every direction by foot, car or public transport,

not to mention the close proximity of Melbourne’s fine restaurants, shops and hotels - the new Hilton Melbourne South Wharf is literally right next door.

As the only convention and exhibition venue in Australia with both Green Globe and Waste Wise accreditation and with its now famous ‘6 Star’ Green Star’ accreditation, the MCEC is committed to sustainability like no other. A

The MCEC seems to have achieved the right balance between leading edge design and functionality. It is definitely the place to be: congress delegates who have the opportunity to attend an event there will feel they have experienced something really special. And, to end on a personal note, the venue boasts the most comfortable chairs ever!

MCEC - THE HARD FACTS ✓ 32 meeting rooms of various sizes ✓ one grand banquet room ✓ an entry level foyer for 8,400 guests ✓ a state-of-the-art 5,000 seat plenary hall that can be divided into three selfcontained, acoustically separate theatres ✓ 30,000m2 of exhibiting space

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Tel: +61 3 9235 8000 enquiries@mcec.com.au www.mcec.com.au

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> MCEC: INTERVIEW

GETTING THE WORK DONE A MEETING WITH LEIGH HARRY WE MET MCEC CHIEF EXECUTIVE LEIGH HARRY AT THE CAFÉ OF HIS BELOVED CENTRE. BETWEEN TWO CAPPUCCINOS AND THE SOUND OF DRILLING MACHINES - FINISHING TOUCHES WERE STILL IN PROGRESS! - HE EXPLAINED WHAT MADE THE MCEC SO GREAT.

HQ: We understand you’re a 6-star convention centre. How did that happen?

Leigh Harry: The Melbourne Convention Centre is the first and only convention in the world to have been awarded a ‘6 Star Green Star’ environmental rating by the Green Building Council of Australia. It’s an independent organisation that guarantees the objectivity of the results. The achievement of a ‘6 Star Green Star’ environmental rating is based on a mix of initiatives that create a natural environment, reducing overall energy use and using minimal non-renewable resources.

made a lot of progress in the congress industry, but of course, nothing is set in stone and there’s still room for improvement.

HQ: Australia - and Melbourne - seem to become more and more popular as congress destinations. How do you explain that?

Leigh Harry: The perception of Australia has changed. We’re not any closer of course, but we make up for it by being better value for money than other regions in the world. The ability to get here has also become much easier, with new airlines, new air routes and improved frequency of flights from all over

I THINK MELBOURNE HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD AT IDENTIFYING THE BEST PRACTICES AROUND THE WORLD AND ADDING AN AUSTRALIAN CHARACTER TO THEM HQ: Where does that strong environmentfriendly conscience come from?

Leigh Harry: It’s a focus of both the state government and the City of Melbourne. The state government has been progressively implementing environmental considerations into all the things they do. The City of Melbourne also wanted to set an example of what could be done in terms of green buildings. The developers need to get some credit as well: they were given a five-star goal, as a minimum, and they achieved six! So we have

the world. And once delegates are on site, we can offer them great return on investment, with our special carbon reduction footprint programmes and such.

I think Melbourne has been really good at identifying the best practices around the world and adding an Australian character to them. When it comes to the meetings industry, there is an expert service culture but it’s not formal, it’s more engaging and friendly than anywhere else in the world. And it’s also

a much more multicultural environment than people expect.

HQ: What’s your relationship with the MCVB? Leigh Harry: The relationship between the convention centre and the MCVB is both strong and unique. The bureau is responsible for all the international marketing activities on a contractual basis, with only one performance criteria: delegate numbers.

We work closely together, our different services communicate in the most efficient way, and we of course don’t get in the way of the MCVB. It’s not a matter of who’s more important than whom. It’s about getting the job done.

HQ: Could you describe what personal feelings this convention centre gives you?

Leigh Harry: A huge amount of pride. We’ve tried really hard to develop a centre that we think will best meet the needs of the people that are going to use it. It has allowed Melbourne to stand proudly in the spotlight but that is not the end. Sometimes people make the mistake of building something and stop right there. Here at the convention centre we’re already thinking about the next step we should take in our facility development to ensure that Melbourne continues to be one of the best convention cities in the world.

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> WPA

CASE STUDY

THE WORLD PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ADOPTING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO TREATING MENTAL DISORDERS WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE MELBOURNEHELD WORLD PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS 2007 - THE LARGEST PSYCHIATRY EVENT EVER ORGANIZED. THE EVENT, WHICH WAS BID FOR AND WON BY THE MELBOURNE CONVENTION + VISITORS BUREAU (MCVB), WAS HELD AT THE MELBOURNE CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE (MCEC) FROM 28 NOVEMBER TO 1 DECEMBER 2007. THE EVENT WAS ATTENDED BY 2,900 DELEGATES FROM 107 COUNTRIES. According to to World Psychiatric Association (WPA) President, Professor Juan Mezzich Melbourne was a major draw card in attracting WPA members to the Congress. ‘The number of Congress participants exceeded our expectations, and all objectives of the Congress were fully met. But it was not simply the comprehensive programme which attracted the largest ever psychiatry event to Melbourne - the city itself was of great appeal, and proved to be a very attractive setting in which all participants felt welcomed in a friendly, warm and safe manner.’

THE EVENT The Congress included two outstanding plenary sessions, 28 key lectures by opinion leaders in 14 streams, eight forums of global significance, 71 high quality symposia, 45 workshops, 77 oral paper sessions and 261 posters. It also featured the largest psychiatric and mental health-related exhibition in Australia, with 45 exhibitors showcasing the latest developments, products and technologies in the Exhibition Hall, therein capitalising on delegates taking refreshment breaks and attending social functions in the exhibition space.

The official opening and welcome reception offered a taste of Outback Australia, com-

MELBOURE WAS OF GREAT APPEAL, AND PROVED TO BE A VERY ATTRACTIVE SETTING IN WHICH ALL PARTICIPANTS FELT WELCOMED IN A FRIENDLY, WARM AND SAFE MANNER plete with the sights, sounds and cuisine of the bush, and included stockmen, sheep dogs and an opportunity to be photographed with a koala. Social programs were a key feature of the Congress, with activities including a Gala Dinner at the National Gallery of Victoria’s Great Hall and dinner on the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant.

Accompanying persons enjoyed an array of leisure options, such as a Gardens and Galleries Tour on the Aboriginal Heritage Walk, a tour of Majestic Melbourne’s 19th Century Architecture and Iconic Buildings, including the MCG, a Laneways and Arcade Shopping tour, a trip to see the Phillip Island penguin parade and a Yarra Valley winery tour.

LEGACY The mandate for the World Psychiatric Association International Congress is to provide opportunities for discussion and the global exchange of information relating to mental health policy, practice and service delivery. The Congress boosts collaborative research and provides a forum for the strengthening of partnerships between all involved in the mental health arena including psychiatrists, general practitioners, mental health nurses, psychologists, patients, their families and the wider community.

Holding the congress in Australia helped strengthen networks between WPA members, particularly in the Asia Pacific, and helped to make mental health issues and service development requirements more visible within Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

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> HOTELS

MELBOURNE HOTELS LUXURY PAR EXCELLENCE OF COURSE THE MCEC IS NOT THE ONLY PLACE WHERE YOU CAN HOLD MEETINGS. WHEN IT COMES TO LUXURIOUS ACCOMMODATION AND CONFERENCE HOTELS, MELBOURNE IS THE RINGLEADER. MOST OF THEM ARE IDEALLY LOCATED, IN THE HEART OF THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT: AS IT IS EASY TO GET AROUND IN THE VICTORIAN CAPITAL, THIS WILL ALLOW YOU TO DO EVERYTHING BY FOOT IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT! HERE’S A FINE SELECTION.

bring the total number of hotel rooms available at the Crown Entertainment Complex to more than 1,600 in 2010. The new hotel site is only a short walk away from the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Another interesting development is definitely the Hilton South Wharf, which I already mentioned earlier. Due to open in April, it will be fully integrated with the MCEC and comprise 396 guest rooms. With spectacular city skyline and river views, the guest rooms will feature soft tones, striking wood interiors and the latest technology available. Take my word for it: I visited the premises!

centre of luxury includes spectacular new upper and lower lobbies, the opening of Collins Kitchen, the new restaurant, and new bar, RU-CO. Grand Hyatt Melbourne’s dynamic function area comprises over 1,600 m2 of meeting and conference facilities over two levels and 15 function rooms, the biggest one accommodating up to 1,200 people.

Crown Towers

Positioned directly opposite the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the lavish Crown Entertainment Complex offers a world of dining and entertainment options, with refined bars, great restaurants, numerous shops, a casino… and two world-class hotels, the 5-star Crown Towers and the 4-star Crown Promenade. The former, where Marcel stayed, boasts 482 luxuriously appointed guestrooms, which all have spectacular views of the city or Port Phillip Bay. Its biggest meeting room accommodates up to 2,500 people. In addition to its spacious 465 rooms, the latter, where I stayed, takes pride in Melbourne’s only purpose-built conference centre in a hotel, hosting more than 600 people.

Crown has also started construction on a new 658-room, 4.5 star hotel, which will

Intercontinental at Rialto - Atrium

Hilton Melbourne South Wharf

Grand Hyatt Melbourne

Grand Hyatt Melbourne, which has just been transformed, deserves to be pointed out. On top of its lavish 547 rooms, Melbourne’s new

Last but not least are The Langham Melbourne and Intercontinental at Rialto.

Situated in the exclusive Southbank precinct, close to the MCEC, the former is one of the most exclusive locations in the city.

With 387 rooms and meeting capacity of up to 400 people, The Langham, Melbourne, takes pride in a rare and exceptionally personalized high level of service delivery.

Re-opened last December, Melbourne the Rialto is a modern day monument of luxury that pays homage to its status as a heritagelisted building in the heart of the financial district. It boasts 253 rooms and 7 meeting rooms, the biggest of which accommodates up to 450 people.

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> SPECIAL VENUES

MELBOURNE’S SPECIAL VENUES STUNNING BY DESIGN BEING A CULTURAL, YOUNG BUT HISTORICAL CITY, MELBOURNE IS FULL OF EXCITING PLACES IN WHICH TO HOLD SPECIAL EVENTS. WHETHER IT BE ARCHITECTURAL ICONS, GREAT MUSEUMS OR DESIGN WAREHOUSES THAT WERE REFURBISHED WITH THE MOST REFINED TASTE, YOU ARE SURE TO FIND SOMETHING THAT WILL SUIT YOUR NEEDS.

THE ICONS

Eureka 89

My visit started with Eureka 89, the tallest residential building in the Southern Hemisphere. At a staggering 300 meters above sea level the 360° panoramic view of the city from up there is stunning.

Whether you are planning a glamorous cocktail event for 450 or an intimate dinner for 30, Eureka 89’s people will be happy to help you!

Federation Square © Andrew Hobbs

Federation Square, the city’s meeting point par excellence, is an inspirational precinct which features community, cultural and commercial activities, as well as a number of venues suitable for a wide range of events. This includes an impressive glass walled amphitheatre, BMW Edge, for seminars or conferences for up to almost 500 people, two superb function centres, the indoor Atrium for small cocktail parties and a variety of lounges, bars and restaurants.

I personally liked Champions, within the Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, with its abundant natural light and its chic minimalist furnishings. It accommodates 200 pax for a dinner party and 350 cocktail style. And of course Zinc, which combines prominent Yarra river frontage with sweeping views of the Botanic Gardens and heritage listed boatsheds, for up to 500 people.

Melbourne Museum

CULTURE-DRIVEN On the edge of the city’s CBD lies Melbourne Museum, which offers many different environments with many different capabilities.

Treetops combines contemporary style and light. Ideal for larger events, the Main Foyer has a backdrop of the Living Forest Gallery.

With glass walls, an outdoor courtyard and city skyline, the Touring Hall and Foyer areas boast spacious volumes and inspirational architecture. All in all, Melbourne Museum welcomes events for 50 up to 1,400 guests.

Other landmark venues include the Melbourne Recital Centre (MRC) and the new MTC Theatre, which officially opened in February. A fine collaboration between design architects and acoustics experts, the MRC is one of the finest acoustically designed halls in the world. The centre features two auditoriums, the organic Elizabeth Murdoch Hall, and a smaller venue, the Salon, hosting from 150 to 1,000 people. There are four spaces within the new MTC Theatre that are available for hire - the 500-seat Sumner Theatre, the Lawler Studio which has a 150 seat capacity, and two VIP rooms with great views.

Platinum Luxury Yacht

been delicately refurbished, comprises of 4 different venues, all with a distinctive style.

The Peninsula, one of the largest venues in Victoria, boasts chic, modern lines and sleek finishes. It accommodates up to 1,500 people.

A gentle union of the modern and the historic, Atlantic has a more industrial, raw feel. Its cocktail capacity is for 500 pax. Sumac will add a definite, exclusive character to your event: with its spicy color, it’s been designed for 230 people. Finally Sketch is Melbourne’s answer to society-style functions. For a cocktail, it can host about 400 people.

AtlanticGroup[V] has recently launched onsite catering, which can be taken anywhere, including on the one-of-a-kind luxury yacht Platinum, consisting of five double cabins, each with their own ensuite, plus three entertaining levels with impeccable décor, accommodating up to 120 guests.

ON THE WATERFRONT In the heart of Melbourne’s Docklands lies Central Pier, owned by AtlanticGroup[V].

The premises, old boat sheds which have

Gala event in Peninsula at Central Pier

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> IN & AROUND

IN AND AROUND MELBOURNE URBAN EXPERIENCES AND COUNTRYSIDE EXPERIMENTS MELBOURNE AND REGIONAL VICTORIA ARE LANDS OF ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. OF COURSE, DURING OUR STAY OVER THERE, MARCEL AND I WERE ONLY ABLE TO TASTE FLAVORS OF THEM. THANKS TO A NICELY-ORGANIZED PROGRAMME PUT TOGETHER BY THE MCVB, I DISCOVERED - AMONG OTHER THINGS - THE HIDDEN PLACES OF MELBOURNE AND TOOK A RIDE TO BALLARAT, THE CITY WHERE IT ALL BEGAN. MARCEL’S AIME PRETOUR INCLUDED AN OUTING IN NORTH-EAST VICTORIA.

JOYS OF MELBOURNE AND BALLARAT Text Rémi Dévé

Melbourne is bustling, Melbourne is vibrant, Melbourne is shining. Of course it helped that we were there in summertime, but still, there are plenty of things to do, galleries to visit, musicals to see, countless restaurants to eat at - I personally enjoyed Donovans on the seaside and Comme in the theater district and, evidently, you can shop until you drop.

I was lucky enough to take part in a ‘Hidden lanes of Melbourne’ tour and I discovered a side of the city that I bet some Melbournians don’t even know. Though some of these lanes may be well known, not all their wonders are easy to find, with their exotic local designers and specialty retailers.

For my pre-AIME tour, I bus-rode to Ballarat, part of the Goldfields region and Victoria’s largest inland city, only an hour away from Melbourne. With its leafy boulevards and heritage buildings, the city has a historical feel, but with a contemporary heart. It’s a place where you can sip a coffee in a hip café, and minutes later, walk a bushland trail on the wild side.

Conferencing in Ballarat is also possible: it boasts places for groups from 10 to 1,000 people. I personally liked Ballarat Fine Art Gallery and its impressive arts collection, Novotel

Melbourne - Shopping in Degraves Street

Melbourne - CBD

Mercure Ballarat Hotel & Convention Centre

IT HELPED WE WERE IN MELBOURNE IN SUMMERTIME, BUT STILL, THERE ARE PLENTY OF THINGS TO DO, GALLERIES TO VISIT, MUSICALS TO SEE, COUNTLESS RESTAURANTS TO EAT AT Forest Resort Creswick with its ‘village’ spirit, and of course Craig’s Royal Hotel, one of early Victoria’s most renowned hotels that will add value to any important gathering.

But the main highlight of my Ballarat weekend was Sovereign Hill, famous for its gold

digging and confectionary shops. For a preor post-congress programme, it’s definitely a must-do. Sovereign Hill is a recreated 1850s Goldfields Township, where you learn about Australia’s gold mining history. A living museum with an underground mine, the recreation is stunning, with people wearing

WILD BALLARAT

Sovereign Hill

For those longing to feed kangaroos or wombats, there is the unique Ballarat Wildlife Park, which also owns an impressive reptile collection. Needless to say the crocodile feeding show is quite memorable as well. Only the name conjures up images that would make the most courageous men tremble…

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> IN & AROUND costumes of that time and real gold flowing in the creek: if you find some, it’s yours - but don’t expect the big nugget, confetti of gold will be more like what you can find! And since it’s quite big, many places can be hired for special functions - the biggest of which, the New York Bakery, accommodates 200 people cocktail style, and will add a very special character to any event.

DIVERSE AND SECURE PLACES TO LIVE IN NORTH-EAST VICTORIA Text Marcel A.M. Vissers

When I heard that the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau promotes the countryside around Melbourne, I thought that was a wonderful idea. Suiting the action to the word, our lively group of sightseers left the sensual city of Melbourne for a post-AIME tour to north-east Victoria. It was a bus ride of exactly two and a half hours. Our MCVB host said: ‘For two days I’ll let you discover a valley with small villages and afterwards you’ll say: for sheer beauty, the King Valley is hard to beat.’

A taste of what was in store for us was given in the Gateway Hotel, an excellent 4.5-star conference hotel in Wangaratta. We then visited the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre. Penny Hargrave, the venue manager, convinced me to come back when it was finished - that’s how much it appealed to me. I’d call it nothing less than an ‘iconic’ building in a rural city, a new alternative regional venue for conferences of up to 500 delegates. The opening is scheduled for September 2009, so unfortunately I won’t be able to make it... We were laid down to sleep very quietly in a really nicely located hotel amid the vineyards: the Lindenwarrah Hotel.

Brown Brothers Winery

Wangaratta Church

MY LIVELY GROUP OF SIGHTSEERS LEFT THE SENSUAL CITY OF MELBOURNE FOR A POST-AIME TOUR TO NORTH-EAST VICTORIA: FOR SHEER BEAUTY, THE KING VALLEY IS HARD TO BEAT ME AND MY FRIEND THE BULL Have a look at my blog because during the pre-tour I deviated from the straight course and I ended up with a wonderful farmer’s family who are taking care of 400 Welsh black cows and bulls. It was with Winnie and Mal that I became friends with a bull.

Marcelsblog.HQmagazine.eu

King Valley

The Milawa region is an outstanding example of a gourmet region with the accent on the Italian cuisine because they say ‘Ciao’ quite a lot here. I know a very good address for a social dinner: Rinaldo’s. According to me, a must-do is a lunch with selected wines with the Brown Brothers, who I always find under the ‘Top Australian Wines’. We were pampered with their latest acquisition: the Zibibbo Rosa, a refined dry pink sparkling wine. Now I’m in doubt if I shouldn’t return in September nonetheless...

Yarra Valley

PEDAL TO PRODUCE Nestled between snowfields and the Murray River, Victoria’s north east showcases dramatic mountains, valleys, and rivers - a perfect backdrop for an inspirational food and wine experience. Try a self-cycle gourmet ‘Pedal to Produce’ tour, visiting the renowned Milawa Cheese Factory Bakery Restaurant, Milawa Mustards and stunning wineries.

Rinaldo’s Restaurant

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