Spice - August 2017

Issue 78 – August – 2017

Hotspots: Byron Bay, Macau, and Marlborough, NZ Hot 100 Services and Suppliers 2017

You voted, we listened

Tech Talk

INSIDE THE NEW ICC SYDNEY

Sydney’s newest mega venue is a game-changer

How to fearlessly embrace event technology

8 Venues, 1 Destination - You Create the Space Located on the iconic Yarra River at the doorstep of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre; South Wharf Events guarantees an experience like no other.

Consisting of two dedicated function centres and six restaurants, these spaces allow flexibility to host a range of events for 10-6,000 guests. www.southwharfevents.com.au | events@southwharfevents.com.au | (03) 9682 7851

COMMON MAN SHOWTIME

COMMON OMMON LA LAWN PLUS 5

BOHEMIAN

CARGO HALL

MEAT MARKET MEA

BANGPOP AKACHOCHIN

SOUTH WHARF PROMENADE

DUKES WALK

DFO

HILTON

MELBOURNE CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE

(MCEC)

Contents

8

This year’s Events Uncovered showcase saw more than 600 attendees wander through the show floor. Get the highlights here.

August 2017

5.

Upfront Staging Connections’ Andrew MacColl gives you the lowdown on the latest and greatest in event technology

12

13

12. Adelaide Convention Centre reborn ACC will debut its all-new $400 million East Building this year and Spice has the details.

20. Hot 100 Services and Suppliers You voted and we listened, find out who your favourite suppliers are here.

14

20

40. Hotspots Marlborough, New Zealand; Macau, China; Byron Bay, NSW

48. Insider Get to know Courtney Fitzgerald-Power of MARK MAKERS event design studio.

50. Last Word

40

48

Victor Pisapia has been in the business for more than a decade.

Here he shares how he works to stay ahead of the competition. www.spicenews.com.au 3

Editorial

End tech talk jargon

Bonnie Tai Editor

Managing Director Simon Grover Publisher James Wells Editor Bonnie Tai btai@intermedia.com.au

newest with the debut of its all-new East Building (page 12), and Cairns Convention Centre set to receive a $176 million upgrade to its premises.

Later we take you on a journey through this edition’s hottest destinations: Macau (pg 44), Byron Bay (pg 46) and Marlborough (pg 40), where we will provide you with a cheat sheet on all there is to offer the business events community. n

“Solutions, innovation, and big data,” – if those aren’t the biggest buzz words in event technology right now, I don’t know what is. The problem, however, is that often the key message of what the product actually does can get lost in translation, leaving the often time-poor event planner confused and fearful of adopting something new.

That’s why in this edition, we’ve vowed to end tech talk jargon, by asking some of the industry’s leading suppliers to strip it back and really tell it how it is. On page 18 you’ll find a great yarn from Entegy’s executive director Graeme Caplen where he debunks common myths regarding high costs and complicated operating systems and teaches you how to really embrace new tech instead of avoiding it.

We also sit down with Mirk founder Mark Dries to talk about how virtual reality and augmented reality are shaping the event scape, and why now is the time to budget for it.

There’s also a lot of news coming in from some of the country’s mega venues, with Adelaide Convention Centre set to be reborn as one of Australia’s

Managing Editor James Wilkinson jwilkinson@intermedia.com.au National Sales Team Katherine Ross, Charlotte Marshall Head of Circulation Chris Blacklock ph 1800 651 422 Production Manager Jacqui Cooper jacqui@intermedia.com.au Production Assistant Rowena MacDonald rmacdonald@intermedia.com.au Senior Designer Chris Papaspiros The opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers in SPICE magazine are not necessarily those of Intermedia’s management or staff.

Spice Magazine Team Group sales and marketing manager Katherine Ross + 61 2 8586 6176 kross@intermedia.com.au

Sales and marketing manager

Senior Designer

Charlotte Marshall

Chris Papaspiros

+61 2 8586 6216 cmarshall@intermedia.com.au

cpapaspiros @intermedia.com.au

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2017

All material contained in SPICE is copyright.

SPICE Magazine is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (ABN 940 025 836 82) 41 Bridge Road, Glebe NSW 2037 ph: 02 9660 2113, fax: 02 9660 4419 ISSN 1832-7176 4 Spice August 2017

DISCLAIMER This publication is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (the “Publisher”). Materials in this publication have been created by a variety of different entities and, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher accepts no liability for materials created by others. All materials should be considered protected by Australian and international intellectual property laws. Unless you are authorised by law or the copyright owner to do so, you may not copy any of the materials. The mention of a product or service, person or company in this publication does not indicate the Publisher’s endorsement. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Publisher, its agents, company officers or employees. Any use of the information contained in this publication is at the sole risk of the person using that information. The user should make independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information before relying on that information. All express or implied terms, conditions, warranties, statements, assurances and representations in relation to the Publisher, its publications and its services are expressly excluded save for those conditions and warranties which must be implied under the laws of any State of Australia or the provisions of Division 2 of Part V of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof. To the extent permitted by law, the Publisher will not be liable for any damages including special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of any kind arising in contract, tort or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damages. While we use our best endeavours to ensure accuracy of the materials we create, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher excludes all liability for loss resulting from any inaccuracies or false or misleading statements that may appear in this publication.

Copyright © 2017 - The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd.

Upfront

What’s trending in tech?

Spice Magazine spends five minutes with Staging Connections’ director of event technology, Andrew MacColl, to discuss the latest and greatest in event technology.

The Trends “I find that the technology most likely to make the biggest impact on event attendees' experience is always the ones to watch. In that category, I would put the emerging collaboration tools which are now starting to become available. These products help event/ meeting attendees get more done and share content and ideas more easily. The latest examples of this include, wireless screen sharing technologies, WAN integration of the IOT (Internet Of Things) and the newer display device form factors like LED Tiles and low pitch LED Walls. The price of all of these devices and technologies is getting more and more affordable and is spawning work-architectural concepts like huddle spaces and creative content sharing meeting spaces. These technologies which blur the lines between traditional IT and AV will all be required to be available in all venue meeting spaces going forward and will impact everybody’s meetings and work places more than anything else I can see coming down the track.”

stand and giving the client the opportunity to walk through the environment and experience it first hand.

The Impact “Engagement is the new black for events. After all most corporate events are a marketing tool. And marketers are constantly looking to get audience engagement. All the science says engagement creates better ‘cut through’ for marketers. Existing tools like live polling and social media tools like twitter and Instagram integration are great for that. The next generation of tools such as second screen technology — where the presentation material is streamed in real time onto attendees own tablet, laptop or smart phone — delivers great engagement opportunities for event designers. It will even allow the attendees to make notes, comments or simply keep a copy of the presenter’s material. It will also provide metrics to event organisers on what attendees were interested in most. n

On Virtual Reality “I’ve been tempted to put VR into the same category as shiny stuff that hasn’t really found a place for mass audience events, but it turns out that this is not really quite true. I don’t really expect to see a large event with a room full of people donning VR goggles becoming commonplace until a seamless wearable device that is aesthetically cool is available. Of course small one-on-one uses to drive traffic to trade show booths is already fairly common but it is limited and I think, short term novelty driven. I think it will be in selling events that VR will likely get the most traction. At least initially. Many planners and end clients struggle to visualise what their event will actually look like. Imagine generating a photorealistic 3D render of a themed gala dinner or exhibition

Andrew’s Top Tip “My advice is to think about new and fresh ways to engage your audience to make your presentation or event more memorable.

Some technologies that used to be outside of the standard event budget are now possible as the cost of many of these technologies now put them within reach. One of our latest products – Scenic Panels – has been extremely popular with our clients. They are available in 2D or 3D and are a really versatile product with an almost infinite number of uses and formations to deliver an amazing event look for stage sets, room dividers, entrance features or networking areas. They look fantastic when used as a canvas for lighting or projection.”

Top five

most clicked 1

spicenews.com.au

Vote now for Hot 100 Services and Suppliers 2017

2

Inside Sydney’s new capsule hotel

3

Pan Pacific acquires Hilton South Wharf

4

Art Series Hotel opens new Melbourne property

5

Entries opened to make

The country’s very first

The new hotel marks the

The Chen is due to open

Opened in July, the new

Spice Magazine’s go-

Japanese-inspired pod

brand’s return to the

in November 2017.

establishment replaces

to list

hotel has opened.

country’s vibrant east

Mode Kitchen debuts at Four Seasons Sydney

Pei Modern.

coast.

www.spicenews.com.au 5

Upfront

Almond Milk Move on over soy, because there’s a new player in town – almond milk. The trendy milk substitute is perfect in your tea, coffee or smoothie, so embrace it!

Doughnut Walls Doughnut walls have become the dessert trend of the year. Perfect as a creative backdrop and oh-so instagrammable, the decorative possibilities for this sweet trend are truly endless.

Coffee in a cone Imagine a caffeine hit

Corporate gifts that matter

wrapped in a blanket of

Let’s face it. Nobody needs

dark chocolate inside

another hat with your logo on it. But

a crunchy waffle cone.

everybody needs to slap on some

Coffee in a Cone makes

sunscreen! So what about sunscreen

for a delicious vehicle for

that goes towards supporting Sun

piccolos, short blacks or

Bear conservation in Borneo? We say

lattes and is now available

yes to that!

in Australia.

Going up, going down Plastic straws Approximately eight million

Mis-labelling dietaries

tonnes of plastic are found

At a recent event, a few

and straws make up a big

lactose intolerant guests ate

part of the equation. Let’s

food clearly labelled ‘dairy free’

swap the straws out for

and ended up awfully ill. Make

a more environmentally

sure you double check and

friendly option.

in the ocean each year,

triple check because allergies are no laughing matter.

Shoddy AV There shouldn’t be a seat in the house that can’t hear what your speaker has to say.

Chair covers The debate over whether chair covers are tacky or not continues to rage on. Avoid the whole debacle by just spending your budget on good quality chairs instead.

6 Spice August 2017

Industry News

Need to Know Sands Resorts Macao hosts Ultimate Download mega MICE famil

1

50 exhibition and events professionals from Australia, USA, New Zealand, Europe, Japan, Korea, Singapore, India, Israel, the UAE, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China descended on Macao last month for a four-day familiarisation experience hosted

by Sands Resorts Macao.

The event – which was two years in the making – kicked off with Bon Vivant, a French themed welcome cocktail party hosted at the newly opened Parisian Macao. Delegates then participated in a mini conference complete with a Q&A session covering a range of trends and hot topics.

A highlight of the familiarisation program was the debut of Sands’ Ultimate Chef challenge (pictured below), which saw delegates form teams to take part in a thrilling Master Chef style cooking competition.

Sands China’s senior vice president of marketing and brand management, Ruth Boston, said the Ultimate Download program offered a great opportunity to showcase not only the region’s world class properties, but also what they can deliver in the meetings, conference and incentives arena.

“Nowhere else will you find seven international hotels with 13,000 guest rooms and suites; 850 stores; 150 restaurants; three theatres; an arena and 150,000 square metres of meeting space all under one roof,”Ruth said.

The program incorporated numerous activities spanning Sands Resorts Macao’s many properties along the Cotai Strip including The Venetian; The Parisian; Four Seasons Hotel; The St Regis; Conrad Macao; Holiday Inn and Sheraton Grand.

Learn more about hosting an event in Macau on page 44.

From Left: Tim Ada, Deputy Secretary of Dept of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport; Robert Doyle AC, Lord Mayor; Karen Bolinger, CEO, MCB; Richard St Pierre, president, C2 International; Genifere Legrand, VP creation and content, C2 International; Cindy-Lee Bakos, Director of special projects, MCI Australia .

“This is the event that was missing from Melbourne’s event Calendar.

It is unlike any tech, innovation, business, cultural or creative arts event previously seen in Australia”

C2 Melbourne to breathe new life into North Wharf precinct The inaugural C2 Melbourne event will convert the city's North Wharf precinct into the site of the world’s most innovative and internationally acclaimed business conference.

After six successful editions, the iconic C2 Montreal will take the event offshore for the first time, choosing Melbourne as its second home.

Karen Bolinger, CEO of Melbourne Convention Bureau, the organisation responsible for steering the proposal to secure the event for Melbourne, said the day has arrived that a business event can be added to Melbourne’s arsenal of major events.

“This is the event that was missing from Melbourne’s event calendar. It is unlike any tech, innovation, business, cultural or creative arts event previously seen in Australia. It brings Victoria’s major events calendar into the next generation by delivering a business conference that feels nothing like a traditional business conference and is at the cutting edge of innovation and business,” Ms Bolinger said.

This will be first time ever the North Wharf precinct has been utilised as a pop up event space.

Taking place on 30 November and 1 December 2017, C2 Melbourne originates from Montreal and was founded by the creators of Cirque De Soleil. n

www.spicenews.com.au 7

* All images courtesy of Oneill Photographics.

Upfront

Events Uncovered

wraps up for another year

N

ow in its third year, Events Uncovered welcomed more than 600 attendees to The Argyle in Sydney on Tuesday 11 July for a day of creating meaningful connections, education and innovation.

Initial feedback from exhibitors and attendees this year has been positive, with many praising the event for delivering a unique ‘vibe’ for business that you would not normally find on a typical trade show floor.

“The team should be really proud as this year’s Events Uncovered was flawless,” commented exhibitor Tanya Brown, the Director of event production company Create Engage.

“The show this year was a great day, we had so much interest from great buyers truly interested in innovation and how to enhance their events,”she said.

Attendees also took to social media to share their experience at the event, using the hashtag #eventsuncovered2017.

“A great afternoon at Events Uncovered. Thanks to Merlin Entertainment for bringing along some wildlife and Johnny Depp,” said event coordinator Jeanette Bradfield on Instagram.

The Spice Temple of Knowledge speaker program was also hugely popular this year with the majority of seminars completely sold out.

Guests learned from the likes of event specialists Harry Whelan and Anna Himsley on how to nail in house events; AV1’s Keith Wootton on the future of event tech; Industry Stalwart Lena Malouf on event concept building; Decorative Events and Exhibition’s Jen Rudland on big design trends; Zadro’s Felicity Zadro on MICE marketing trends; Tom Rutherford on the golden rules of catering; and MEA’s Robyn Johnson on the role of associations.

8 Spice August 2017

“The team should be really proud as this year’s Events Uncovered was flawless.”

Striking a pose with Leo at the Merlin stand.

The Harajuku girls have a go on Musicland's Mash Machine.

“Exhibitors really got on board with the innovation concept of Events Uncovered,” said Simon Cooper, director of Interpoint Events, the brains behind Events Uncovered.

“From the moment the visitor turned into the Argyle alley they experienced the possibilities for the events of the future.”

“Attendees started at the tap-and-go system which saw attendees breeze through registration in just 20 seconds, before heading into an environment that was funky and cool to do business in – the feedback we’ve received from attendees has been amazing,” he said.

Events Uncovered will be back again next year, bigger and better than before, he promised. n

Spice co-editor Emma Castle leads the Spice Temple of Knowledge session.

Upfront

Whizzing through registration with Sprintr kiosks.

Sweet&Chilli leads a cocktail masterclass.

White Umbrella and Climate Australia kept guests dry and toasty at the networking soiree.

Paint by numbers at the Musicland stand.

Indulging in pasta provided by Rockpool Group's Fratelli Fresh.

Attendees get a taste of MusicLand's Mash Machine.

Winding down after a successful day of meetings at the sold-out networking function.

www.spicenews.com.au 9

Cover Story

ICC SYDNEY – AUSTRALIA’S NEW BEACON OF INNOVATION International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) is Australia’s premier convention, exhibition and entertainment venue. Opened in December 2016, the venue has already proven to be a truly unique destination with innovation at its core – from world class facilities and premium food and wine offering, to the amazing events it hosts and its approach to creating a lasting legacy.

An Integrated Approach Sydney is one of the globe’s leading event destinations, and ICC Sydney is helping to underscore the city’s reputation by providing clients, delegates and visitors alike with industry leading integrated facilities that have been specifically designed to foster innovation.

ICC Sydney brings together a striking contemporary design with first rate

10 Spice August 2017

technology, including a 10Gbps optical fibre backbone hardwired into every room. This supports the venue’s flexible spaces, encompassing impressive convention facilities, 70 meeting spaces, three individual theatres, 35,000sqm exhibition space, a 5,000sqm open air event deck, and the region’s largest purpose-built Grand Ballroom with a 2,000 seat banquet capacity.

This dynamic offering is backed by a commitment from the team to delivering service excellence, providing the ideal platform for the world’s leaders and thinkers to meet, collaborate and innovate.

Cover Story

Feeding Your Performance Nutrition has emerged as a key factor in business event success, as what we eat plays a vital role in how we concentrate, ideate and process information.

ICC Sydney has embraced an industry first Feeding Your Performance philosophy, which delivers ‘smart’ menus comprising fresh, seasonal ingredients, expertly combined to drive physical and mental performance.

The venue’s dishes feature increased ratios of plant based proteins to boost digestion and concentration.

Meals are also high in protein and low in saturated fats to help visitors maintain energy and focus during their important meetings and events.

Events of the Future ICC Sydney hosts an impressive calendar of events, and plays a key role in connecting locals with global thought leaders and, in turn, international talent with Australian thinkers, creating a melting pot of ideas and innovation.

The venue has been designed to accommodate a variety of programs, from presentations and breakout sessions, to corporate networking banquets and complex technical demonstrations, allowing organisers to create impactful, bespoke programs.

By providing unparalleled capabilities, ICC Sydney has attracted a variety of events that help shape new thinking, including the leading platform for the propagation of ideas and innovation, TEDx. It has also participated in Vivid, the famous festival of lights, music and ideas, including showcasing a custom digital display across 19 of its seven-metre high digital blades, which also provide wayfinding, listings and community information to visitors of Darling Harbour.

A True Legacy Just six months into operation, ICC Sydney has been named Australia's best conference venue at the Qantas Business Travel Awards.

with quintessentially Sydney dining experiences while supporting our unique Feeding Your Performance approach to food and beverage.

In doing so, we are also helping to create financial stability, drive growth, job creation and development in rural areas throughout the State.”

With more than 750 events secured to date – from the APRA Music Awards, to the EduTECH International Congress & Expo – and a growing reputation for providing extraordinary client and visitor experiences, ICC Sydney has become a true beacon of innovation in the global city of Sydney.

CEO of ICC Sydney, Geoff Donaghy, said that ensuring the venue delivers a lasting legacy for delegates, visitors, regional communities and its own people is core to ICC Sydney’s mission.

“ICC Sydney is the nexus between two important areas of economic impact – the visitor economy and the knowledge economy. In a first for the industry, we are also investing in a third stream – communities across New South Wales (NSW).

“We have created an innovative supply chain, working with 60 regional producers to provide guests

BOOK TODAY Email sales@iccsydney.com or call +61 2 9215 7100 ICCSYDNEY.COM

MANAGED BY AEG OGDEN www.spicenews.com.au 11

Mega Venues

A new direction for the Adelaide

CONVENTION CENTRE T

he Adelaide Convention Centre will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2017 by opening the doors of its new East Building, the fi nal stage in a $400 million expansion.

Set more than 30 metres above Adelaide’s Riverbank, the new East Building reaches out over the boardwalk, providing expansive views towards Adelaide Oval and along the River Torrens. It’s a bold reminder of the importance of conferences and events to the City, particularly in attracting thought leaders to help drive investment in South Australia’s transitioning economy to high tech industries such as defence, medical research and biotechnology.

For conference organisers, the newly expanded centre will not only be able to host much larger events across its seamlessly integrated three buildings, but also accommodate a number of smaller conferences and events simultaneously. The high degree of flexibility built into the design and operations provides conference and event organisers with greater options.

Adelaide Convention Centre Chief Executive Alec Gilbert says the new East Building - a multipurpose, state-of-the-art facility with plenary capacity of up to 3,500 seats - is the final stage in creating Australia’s most flexible convention centre.

“New technologies are the hallmark of the $400 million expansion which will set a new

12 Spice August 2017

Australia’s first purposebuilt convention centre to be reborn as the country’s newest

benchmark in convention centre design and functionality,” Gilbert tells Spice Magazine.

“The Plenary will allow numerous possible reconfigurations of the space to suit the requirements of each event, while the flexibility of the East Building will enable it to be subdivided and configured within minutes.”

The centrepiece of the new East Building’s innovation and flexibility is the installation of the world’s largest rotating seating drums - two 18-metre, precision-built revolving auditoriums with seating for 320 people each. Located at the back of the Plenary, the seating drums can rotate 180 degrees in minutes, and will be used to quickly reconfigure conference and event space.

Another defining feature of the East Building is a new auditorium with hinged seating stored in the roof, which can be easily lowered to convert the area from exhibition space to theatre-style. The drums and the hinged seating work in tandem with fully operable sliding walls, which can be put into place to enclose conference space, or be retracted to open up the Plenary to full capacity.

Among other new additions, the Adelaide Convention Centre’s redevelopment has included the installation of a Skyway (an elevated walkway), along with a new café court - the perfect location for delegates to meet up after hours - which is set to open in November. The architecturally innovative Skyway connects the Centre’s three distinct buildings (East, Central and West), while also serving to maximise the building’s panoramic views.

The café court, titled Home Ground, will incorporate five unique food and beverage outlets and become a showcase for a range of quintessentially South Australian food and wine experiences. The diverse vendors will connect visiting conference delegates with South Australians, and South Australian life in a social environment. n

Mega Venues

Cairns Convention Centre set for revamp The Cairns Convention Centre (CCC) is set to undergo a $176 million upgrade following the Commonwealth Games basketball preliminaries in 2018.

Spice Magazine sat down with the mega venue’s General Manager Ross Steel to discuss CCC’s exciting evolution.

Tell us about the upgrades Cairns Convention Centre is set to receive?

To allow the Cairns Convention Centre to continue to grow this legacy for the benefit of our region long into the future, it is time to renew and expand.

The recent budget announcement will allow this to happen by adding 3,000 square metres of new exhibition space and associated meeting rooms enabling the Centre to increase convention business by hosting larger and more concurrent events. It will also allow for the full refurbishment of the existing Centre to ensure it remains at the leading edge of Convention Centres for the next 25 years. This expansion will allow us to continue the link with the city’s universities to bid for, facilitate and host conventions relating to their field of expertise which will aid recognition, reputation, profile and funding opportunities to the universities and academics.

“The expansion will however allow us the opportunity for more concurrent business, so we will be targeting additional international meetings, particularly from the Asia Pacific.”

How many more delegates is it expected to attract following the completion?

Around 20,000 new visitors per year will experience our city. Some will stay, some will invest here, all will leave an economic or social benefit for us to enjoy.

Where will the bulk of your new international delegates come from?

We expect our International delegates will come from all over the world, however we do see large numbers from Asia Pacific attend our international conferences. n

Will you be targeting more overseas business following the upgrade?

We will continue our current practice of targeting a solid mix of National and International Convention Business which currently is around 50/50. The expansion will however allow us the opportunity for more concurrent business so we will be targeting additional international meetings, particularly from the Asia Pacific. www.spicenews.com.au 13

Mega Venues

Village Roadshow Theme Parks’ Topgolf attraction on track to debut by mid-2018

F

rom mid-2018, the Gold Coast will be home to Topgolf, an all-new multi-million dollar attraction set to lure in the event and conferencing crowd.

Situated next to Warner Bros. Movie World, Topgolf is the only entertainment experience of its kind in Australia, offering engaging golfing games for all ages and skill levels, paired with a chef-driven menu, top-shelf tipples, big screen televisions, and music in climate-controlled suites for year-round comfort.

The attraction is already hugely successful in the US and the UK, with over 40 locations already served.

While the concept is hugely appealing to golfers, the majority of guests who attend are non-golfers who enjoy the social and interactive ambience.

The project is a joint venture between USheadquartered Topgolf and Village Roadshow Theme Parks.

Village Roadshow Theme Parks currently has six properties and a portfolio of mega venues including the Movie World Stars Pavilion with a sit down capacity for 1,200; the Australian Outback Spectacular Dinner and Show venue (1,000 pax); the new Sea World Plaza event space (1,000 pax) and the Sea World Resort Conference Centre (1,000 pax, theatre style).

Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Movie World has announced it will also launch the DC Rivals HyperCoaster come October (pictured left). The new attraction has been pitched as a “gamechanger” for Australian theme parks and will be the longest, fastest and highest rollercoaster in the Southern Hemisphere. n

100

Spice

HOT

FIN AL IST

Services & Suppliers

Advertorial

The changing face of the mega venue – building a space

What takes a great location to the status of mega venue? Is it capacity? Is it square footage? Is it Audiovisual capabilities?

With Australia becoming a destination for more and more large inbound groups each year, Spice Magazine met with Brad Dabbs, General Manager of South Wharf Events to hear how he has developed a product to meet all of the weird and the wonderful requests which come his way.

S

outh Wharf Promenade in Melbourne runs along the fringe of the CBD and is situated right on the doorstep of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Bursting with exciting restaurants and one – soon to be two hotels – it was always destined to be a hub for business events. Dabbs, who honed his craft managing Queensland’s Daydream Events, has an acute understanding of both the corporate and leisure hospitality markets, moving to trendy Melbourne in 2012 when the wharf development was still in its infancy. Now, with six unique restaurants and two iconic events centres (Showtime and Cargo Hall) he recalls wistfully the days when tumbleweeds used to blow along the riverside.

Keen to find a way to optimise this prime real estate, Dabbs works with assistance from PCOs and the local bureau to constantly monitor trends in the international market.

He also travels internationally to engage key inbound operators.

“The main challenge was to meet the diverse set of rules and requirements without every compromising on quality and service,” he confides to Spice. “International incentive groups are getting smaller with a focus on authentic local experiences, while associations and key sectors have strict hospitality budget restraints and growing congress attendance numbers.”

The solution is both elegant and exciting. Shared ownership across the eight venues allows clients to ‘build their own mega venue’ by combining interconnecting spaces including, outdoor areas and laneways to create an interactive festival style event. With existing theming, open kitchens, and central production management included in costings, the space can be transformed to replicate the Laneways of Melbourne or a Global Carnival in a matter of hours.

Entering Dabbs’ office the key message is proudly written on the wall: Convenience, Creativity and Collaboration. “The gloves are off. The days of party pies and white walls are thankfully long gone.

Showcasing Victoria as a destination and working with neighbours and suppliers to provide unique and engaging experiences is key.

The selection of Melbourne as the next destination for C2 is a huge testament to the city as well. We have to stay current.” n

www.spicenews.com.au 15

Innovations Catchbox Engage your audience and make Q+A time more enjoyable with the world’s first soft throw-able microphone. This nifty little gadget makes for an awesome ice breaker at any conference or event and really lightens the mood, getting even the quietest of attendees to speak up during Q+A time. All of its electronic components are hidden away inside, surrounded by light foams and technical fabrics, ensuring that the device won’t be damaged when being thrown (or caught). If you’re worried about the sound quality – don’t. Catchbox was designed first and foremost to have crisp audio quality, with the frequency response of the mic especially optimized for speech. The skins are fully customizable, and can be flawlessly integrated with your brand or event heme.

Loopd by etouches Sleek and sophisticated, etouches’ all-new Loopd badge is drumming up buzz in all the right ways.

The wearable tech enables fast and easy

Drones

contact exchange, content

See your event from another

collection and registration for attendees while capturing attendee interactions and session attendance. The smart device weighs less than 4 grams and has Bluetooth LE connectivity and a two month battery life.

Go, Go Gadget 5 tech innovations you should embrace for your next event.

perspective by way of drone.

Drones are increasingly becoming a more essential component of the events industry following the launch of Facebook Live. Savvy event managers have married the trend of live video marketing and drone photography by adopting it to both promote the event online and to engage their attendees. In the future, we can also expect to see fly-through venue inspections and on-the-spot drone delivery on the exhibition floor.

Virtual reality head gear Once thought of as a bit of a gimmick in the 80’s; you’d be hard pressed today to find anyone not taking this tech trend seriously. VR headsets such as Sony’s

Mash Machine

Oculus Rift have now gone mainstream, with many

It’s time to get the party started with Mash Machine, an all-new social

other tech giants such as Google investing in their

experience that turns its players into DJs in seconds. The machine has

own custom models. Virtual reality is set to change the

an intuitive interface that responds to players placing and moving

events sphere as we know it over the coming years.

blocks onto its slick surface. Dubbed ‘the Lego of music’, Mash

There really are no limits with this emerging technology.

Machine has been used in some really creative ways: DJ battles;

In the not so distant future expect to see virtual reality

improvisation; live performances; and as permanent installations at

venue showcases; VR product activations and virtual

museums. You can even record the speakers of your conference and

meetings.

replace the vocals with their voices and create a soundtrack around it!

16 Spice August 2017

Innovations

Mark Dries

See it, believe it The ability now exists to attend an event on the other side of the globe in a fully immersed VR environment, simply by slipping your mobile phone into a VR headset… pretty cool huh?

How will mobile and social media play into the trend?

Mark Dries is the founder of Mirk, a Sydneybased company which crafts immersive virtual reality and augmented reality experiences for businesses looking for something a little different to impress. Here he shares with Spice Magazine all the possibilities of the emerging technology and how it will change the events scape forever.

How do you see virtual reality / augmented reality technology impacting the events and exhibition industry?

Don’t tell me, show me! Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality allows the user to experience and interact with things for themselves. Whether used by events as a whole or by individual brands within larger events, VR and AR technology offers a huge opportunity to deliver an unmatched experience.

With FacebookVR, Youtube now streaming live VR content and Snapchat’s World Lenses creating live AR experiences, social media will play a pivotal role in furthering the advancement of virtual and augmented reality. With Facebook VR, rather than just reading what your best mate Jim is having for breakfast, you’ll be able to throw on a VR headset and be in Jimbo’s kitchen munching down on some coco pops together. It’s not really VR’s best use, but I’m sure it will appeal to some!

How can adopting virtual reality improve attendee engagement?

With a significant amount of the population having still not experienced VR, now is a great opportunity to showcase the technology to people at events, as it will put the brand that delivered it at the forefront of their minds.

How can event managers adopt virtual reality/augmented reality into their event plan without breaking the budget?

We’ve developed simple VR and AR experiences for clients for under 5k to help them “tip their toe into the water”. The ability to use most smartphones as VR AND AR devices and the ability to hire high-end VR systems, can make delivering these experiences cost-effective.

How fast has technology advanced in the VR sphere?

The technology has come a long way in just a couple of years since we’ve been in the space. All mobile devices (tablets and phones) are now being built with VR and AR in mind. The hand controllers that ship with the high end Vive and Rift devices, now offer the user amazing levels of interactivity within their VR experience.

Should event managers begin the conversation of implementing it into their event plans now? Or wait until the technology has advanced more?

The technology is already very impressive, although it is just the start of where we’ll end up within our lifetimes. The experience we can deliver just with a Samsung Galaxy phone and a Gear VR headset is pretty mind-blowing. n www.spicenews.com.au 17

Expert Opinion

Embracing event technology Looking to take the leap and embrace event technology, but unsure where to start? Let Entegy’s executive director Graeme Caplen break it down for you. Here he imparts his expertise on how to adopt event tech and shares his insights on how it can take your engagement levels to new heights.

E

vent technology has evolved by leaps and bounds in recent years and as a result is playing a greater role in the event lifecycle.

No longer just trendy or nice-to-have, it is an invaluable tool for event organisers to run better events. However, some event professionals are yet to adopt technology or simply aren’t taking full advantage of what’s on offer. This is due to a variety of misconceptions including: the cost is too high

Are costs holding you back from investing in event technology? The size and scale of your event shouldn’t impact your technology choices. for the event size and budget; it is too complicated to operate and it will make the event experience less personal.

Perhaps you have had a bad experience with outdated technology?

Current cloudbased platforms, mobile and web apps mean you don’t need to install anything on your computer or require an IT specialist to operate it. In fact, event technology products are becoming

18 Spice August 2017

increasingly easy to use without a need for special training.

Are costs holding you back from investing in event technology? The size and scale of your event shouldn’t impact your technology choices. We have worked with event organisers and companies which operate from 1 to over 1000 events in a year. Many are surprised to find they can use sponsorship to offset technology costs and generate additional revenue.

Will technology and automation impersonalise the event experience? It can actually have the opposite effect. Many event professionals find that technology enables them to consistently meet rapidly evolving attendee expectations. Technology that is intuitive and fast can vastly improve the event experience.

Now we have debunked those myths, let’s look at what is proven to work and where to start.

Implementing the latest technology or instantly automating all of your otherwise manual processes is not the most effective or efficient approach to adopting event technology.

First, look at solving your most obvious needs. Ask yourself these questions to determine where technology can help. What is your biggest challenge? Are there areas you could save time and money? Are you meeting your attendee, exhibitor and sponsor expectations? What products exist to help meet your requirements?

An event app could help you communicate to attendees in real time. Live polling and streaming could enhance your speaker sessions and audience participation. Lead generation and gamification could improve your exhibitors and sponsors ROI. Look at what your attendees, exhibitors and sponsors are wanting from historical event data and feedback.

Also look at key areas of your operations which could be simplified or improved from an efficiency standpoint.

For example, collecting feedback from attendees via paper forms and manually entering into a spreadsheet.

Digital feedback forms via an app or website make collecting and sorting feedback much more efficient, saving hours of data entry.

Now you have established the areas where event technology can be of most assistance, start by incorporating only one or two new technologies or features. When you are comfortable with your established event technology, you start to discover its full capability – and this is where the fun begins. n

Advertorial

CREATE AN EXPERIENCE

REMEMBER Know that feeling in a great restaurant when the waitperson provides everything you need (and more!) without intruding on your dining experience?

Now you can create that feeling for delegates on your next event. Here's how...

Welcome them, don’t overwhelm them

Allow them to give feedback

First impressions count. When your delegates arrive they deserve a seamless, no fuss experience that impresses them well before the opening act. Enlist the help of self-service, onsite registration kiosks that kick off your event without a bang.

Delegates are engaged from the start, instantly printing their badge and heading straight into the event to network or grab a coffee.

Don’t stand at the back of the closing session waiting to collect feedback forms. Take the pressure off and allow delegates to provide ongoing feedback in a safe environment using an event app.

Even better, use interactive polling and Q&A features to involve the audience in live discussions. It’s easy; ask a question, attendees submit answers instantly on an app, and you display the results on screen.

Give them the information they need Delegates use their smartphones every day to access information quickly, so offer the same at your event. Use a dedicated event app to deliver the right information to the right people at the right time.

With all the information in one place, attendees can find answers immediately. From updated schedules and speaker changes, to exhibitor directories and the best coffee nearby.

Plus, send push notifications directly to their phone for critical information and reminders.

Encourage them to get involved, if they want to Supercharge engagement by adding gamification features to your event app. Don’t hassle your attendees with stamp books to take around the exhibition. Do it all digitally.

Exhibitors can drive traffic through incentives and lead capture, while delegates can view and connect with fellow attendees. Use a secure in-app social feed to provide further engagement for delegates, where they can publish content, photos and comments.

Your future self will thank you Data is king, so give yourself the ability to easily collect and use it.

No more wasted time printing multiple versions of name badges, session updates or handbooks. Save yourself the trouble and allow for instant changes, instant registrations and instant feedback.

Spend more time engaging personally with your delegates, and let technology do the work for you. n

Sprintr by AV1 specialises in registration kiosks, customisable event apps and event technology solutions. Call 02 8310 0355 to book a demo or visit www.sprintr.com.au to find out more.

by

www.spicenews.com.au 19

Photo credit: Tim Levy

DELEGATES WILL

hot 100

The list showcases only the very best event services and suppliers in Australia, as voted by you our readers.

HOT 100 Services and Suppliers 2017 1. Best Event Caterer

RESTAURANT ASSOCIATES LAISSEZ-FAIRE CATERING Laissez-Faire Catering delivers high-end, large and boutique scale events. Only the freshest ingredients which are sourced locally are used.

Website: www.laissez.com.au Social Media: @LFCATERER

Restaurant Associates are world class hospitality and fine cuisine professionals and have an enviable track record working with some of the most prestigious venues and corporations in the world.

Website: www.restaurantassociates. com.au Social Media: @ra_australia

TRIPPAS WHITE GROUP PETER ROWLAND Peter Rowland’s team of world class chefs, food designers, stylists, event producers and hospitality managers can deliver any style of event – anytime, anywhere.

Website: www.peterrowland.com.au Social Media: @peterrowlandau

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CAXTON STREET CATERING Seasonally designed and tailored menus to cater to all unique and individually styled events.

Website: www.catxtonstcatering. com.au Social Media: @caxtonstcatering

Responsible for iconic venues, event spaces and offsite catering across Australia, Trippas White Group operates from premium locations such as Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Tower and more.

Website: www.trippaswhitegroup.com.au Social Media: @trippaswhite

2. Best Entertainment Agency

ENHANCE ENTERTAINMENT

THE GROOVE ACADEMY

Enhance helps you source, book and activate speakers and entertainers for your event.

Website: www.enhance.com.au Social Media: @enhanceentertainment

The Groove Academy provides quality entertainment solutions for a wide variety of corporate events. Entertainment options on the roster include experienced DJs, live bands, acoustic singer-songwriters and club acts, as well as catering for festivals, bars, nightclubs, weddings as well as corporate and special events throughout Australia.

Website: www.thegrooveacademy.com.au Social Media: @thegrooveacademyaus

SMA PRODUCTIONS ONSTAGE ENTERTAINMENT Onstage Entertainment provides bands, comedians, MCs, guest speakers, feature performers and roving acts. They specialise in creating unique, magical experiences.

Website: www.onstage.com.au Social Media: @OnStageEntertainment

Experts in the business of show, SMA’s award-winning event entertainment include worldclass feature shows and bespoke entertainment creations that continue to captivate audiences worldwide.

Website: www.sma-ebd.com Social Media: @smaproductions

BBC ENTERTAINMENT BBC Entertainment offers a variety of different styled acts to add interest, fun and excitement to all your parties and events.

Website: www.bbcentertainment.com.au Social Media: @BBC Entertainment

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hot 100 3. Best Individual Performer, Speaker or DJ

DARRYL LOVEGROVE

SCOTT PULLEN

Darryl Lovegrove successfully fuses engaging storytelling, business smarts and live opera all into one package.

Website: www.darryllovegrove.com Social media: @darryllovegrove.com

Scott Pullen offers a professional DJ service, and has over 20 years’ experience servicing everything from large company celebrations to intimate and sophisticated cocktail events.

Website: www.scottpullen.com Social Media: @scottpullen

CHUNKY JAM Chunky Jam is a high quality corporate cover band suitable for awards nights, gala dinners, conference galas, public events, fundraisers.

Website: www.chunkyjamband.com Social Media: @chunkyjamband

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THE DIAMONDS Labelled as ‘Destiny’s Child meets The Supremes’, The Diamonds are a celebration of the greatest divas of all time and are currently one of Australia’s hottest exports performing for high profile events across the globe. Expect amazing harmonies, stunning designer costumes and knock out talent.

Website: www.thediamondslive.com.au Social Media: @thediamondslive

BRAD BLAZE Brad Blaze is a speedpainter – one of the fastest in the world. On stage he creates elaborate portraits using unconventional methods, often in four minutes or less.

Website: www.speedpainter.com Social Media: @brad.blaze.50

4. Best AV and Staging Company

AV1 AV1 produces unique and memorable events, offering audio visual and media production, design and event technology.

Website: www.av1. com.au Social Media: @av1_australia

STAGING CONNECTIONS Staging Connections is an award-winning audio visual and events company specialising in lighting, staging, webcasting, styling, event technology and more.

Website: www. stagingconnections.com Social Media: @stagingconnections

MICROHIRE With extensive experience in providing AV solutions for every type of corporate event, Microhire’s inventory consists of HD projectors, LED walls, PA Systems and more.

Website: www. microhire.com.au Social Media: @microhire

HAYCOM With the brightest minds and the best equipment, Haycom delivers stunning lighting, audio and video, and effects for live events.

Website: www. haycom.com Social Media: @haycom_

INNOVATIVE PRODUCTION SERVICES Innovative incorporates creative design and the latest technology to provide superior, reliable and all-inclusive technical production solutions for events.

Website: www. innovative.net.au Social Media: @innovative_syd

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hot 100 5. Best Team Building Suppliers

BE CHALLENGED Be Challenged provides a creative solution to engage an audience and turn them into participants for a memorable experience and message.

Website: www.bechallenged.com.au Social: @bechallenged

LET'S GO SURFING Your conference or corporate group will love this board meeting! LGS can customise a fun, safe, beach bonding or breakout session to include: surfing, body boarding, body surfing, stand up paddle boarding, beach Olympics, lifesaving demonstrations and Iron Man events. Wet or dry!

Website: www.letsgosurfing.com.au Social Media: @letsgosurfingaustralia

YOUR CORPORATE KITCHEN Australia’s ultimate team building and leadership experience. You and your colleagues will have the chance to run a fine dining restaurant.

Website: www.yourcorporatekitchen. com.au Social media: @yourcorporatekitchen

SONGDIVISION AUSTRALIA SongDivision builds corporate culture through music. It engages audiences, communicates messages and provides entertainment through interactive musical experiences.

Website: www.songdivision.com/au Social Media: @songdivision

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VICTORSFOOD Get into the spirit of teamwork by engaging with interactive cooking events using the alchemy of the kitchen to turn your team into gold.

Website: www.victorsfood.com.au Social Media: @victorsfood

6. Best Themes, Props and Décor

FUNKTIONALITY Funktionality is one of Australia’s leading special event companies, consistently pushing boundaries to produce events that entertain, communicate and inspire.

Website: www.funktionality.com.au Social Media: @Funktionality

DECOR IT EVENTS Décor It Events is a leading event theming, styling and hire company, specialising in centrepieces, floral and table linen for all events.

Website: www.decoritevents.com.au Social Media: @decoritevents

BACKDROPS FANTASTIC Backdrops Fantastic supplies hundreds of themes and modular stage sets to dress any event.

Website: www.backdrops.com.au Social Media: @backdropsfantasticaus

SYDNEY PROP SPECIALISTS Sydney Prop Specialists prove a unique service with thousands of props, themed sets and décor to choose from. They can create, build and style any event in any theme imaginable.

Website: www.sydneyprops.com.au Social Media: @sydneypropspecialists

DECORATIVE EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS (DE&E) DE&E is a multi-award winning creative supplier specialising in design, decorating, display, signage and stage sets.

Website: www.decorativeevents.com.au Social Media: @decorativeevents

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hot 100 7. Best Event Florist

SUSAN AVERY FLOWERS AND EVENTS 30 years, 4,000 weddings, 300,000 arrangements...

How much experience do you want? From the boardroom to a party, they’ve done it all.

Website: www.susanavery.com.au Social Media: @averyevents

FLOWER ROOM NEWTOWN The Flower Room is a funky and unique boutique florist based in Sydney’s Inner West that creates modern and individual designs catering for all needs.

Website: www.theflowerroom.com.au Social Media: @theflowerroom

P.S. FLORAL DESIGN

DESIGNS BY BOOSHI

P.S. Floral Design is a full-service studio located in Surry Hills, Sydney.

The company creates inspiring floral works of art, catering towards corporate events, weddings and special occasions.

Website: www.psfloraldesign.com Social Media: @psfloraldesign

Looking for a bespoke design?

Designs by booshi is known in the industry for its professional approach, wealth of knowledge and genuine passion for creating personalised events.

Website: www.booshi.com.au Social Media: @designsbybooshi

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PEARSONS FLORIST Specialising in flowers, gifts and weddings, Pearsons expertly selects the highest quality blooms direct from markets and farms around the globe.

Website. www.pearsonsflorist.com.au Social Media: @pearsonsflorist

8. Best Expo Builders

STAGING RENTALS & CONSTRUCTION Staging Rentals & Construction (SRC) is one of Australia’s leading suppliers of stages, drapes, event construction services and exhibition stand turnkey solutions.

Website: www.stagingrentals.com.au Social Media: @stagingrentalsandconstruction

EXPO DIRECT With locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and now Thailand, Expo Direct offers a range of exhibition solutions including furniture, shell scheme, custom stand, display, AV, power, lights and so much more.

Website: www.expodirect.com.au Social Media: @expo_direct

MORETON HIRE EXPONET ExpoNet builds engaging marketing environments offering event and exhibition infrastructure, custom solutions, equipment, design, venue knowledge, project management, technology, furniture and styling.

Website: www.exponet.com.au Social Media: @exponet_aus

Moreton Hire has over 200 specialised staff nationally and provides creative and comprehensive equipment hire for businesses and individuals.

Its services cover everything from marquees to AV, catering equipment to linen and furniture hire.

Website: www.moreton.net.au Social Media: @moretonhire

EVENTS 720 Events 720 is a specialist exhibition services company that provides unique display solutions to exhibition organisers and exhibitors.

Website: www.events720.com Social Media: @events720

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hot 100 9. Best Hire Company

MICROHIRE Microhire provides a number of specialist services that will assist in keeping your audience informed.

Website: www.microhire.com.au Social Media: @microhire_au

PLACE SETTINGS FOR HIRE Place Settings for Hire offers premium hire furniture to make your event a party to remember.

Website: www.placesettings.com.au Social Media: @placesettings

VALIANT HIRE From private functions to iconic events, Valiant offers a wide range of hire furniture and style events with unforgettable pizzazz.

Website: www.valiant.com.au Social Media: @valiant_styling

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EXPO DIRECT With locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and now Thailand, Expo Direct offers a range of exhibition solutions including furniture, shell scheme, custom stand, display, AV, power, lights and so much more.

Website: www.expodirect.com.au Social Media: @expo_direct

DECORATIVE EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS A multi-award winning styling, design and build company with extensive in house design services, skills and infrastructure.

Website: www.decorativeevents.com.au Social Media: @decorativeevents

10. Best Corporate Gifts and Merchandise

PAMPER HAMPER GIFTS Pamper Hamper Gifts online is Australia’s luxury and premier gift hamper company operating from Sydney and distributing nationally.

Website: www. pamperhampergifts. com.au Social Media: @pamperhampergifts

THE GOODS TUBE The Goods Tube provides personalised corporate and event gifts in unique packaging, creating an instant impact upon arrival.

Website: www. goodstube.com Social Media: @thegoodstube

EVENTS PLUS – PROMOTIONAL MARKETING AGENCY Events Plus connects your company’s marketing plans with branding solutions, promotional products and corporate gifts.

Website: www. eventsplus.com.au Social Media: @events_plus_ promotions

EXPERIENCE THIS – EVENT CINEMAS Experience This invites you to tap into the power and excitement of cinema for all your rewards and promotional needs.

Website: www. experiencethis.com.au Social Media: @ExperienceThisgifts

THE HAMPER EMPORIUM Gift hampers are made fresh daily by the Hamper Emporium’s dedicated team.

Website: www. thehamperemporium. com.au Social Media: @thehamperemporium

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hot 100 11. Best Event Management

THIS SPACE One agency for all your solutions with four dedicated divisions: events, design, digital, style.

Website: www.thisspace.com.au Social Media: @thisspaceevents

FORUM GROUP EVENTS Forum Group Events create endto-end marketing experiences that connect, educate and inspire whilst driving business results for a diverse range of clients.

Website: www.forumgroupevents. com.au Social Media: @forum_group_events

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SCOPE PRODUCTIONS Scope Productions draws on a decade of experience to deliver high quality productions, from event management to video production services.

Website: www.scopeproductions.com.au Social Media: @scope_productions

BELLE LAIDE EVENTS (BLE)

EVENT MAFIA

Producers of award winning corporate events built around creative concepts, engaging environments, and delightful details.

Website: www.ble.com.au Social Media: @bellelaideevents

A leading event management and design agency providing unique event and luxury travel experiences for the corporate and social market globally.

Website: www.eventmafia.com.au Social Media: @eventmafia

12. Best Support Services

CREATE ENGAGE PURE CHICA Pure Chica offers pop-up Pamper Rooms at corporate events providing on-the-spot makeup and hair touch-ups, mini manicure and massage treatments, as well as luxury Powder Rooms to style your bathrooms with fancy products and attendants.

Website: www.purechica.com.au Social Media: @purechica

Create Engage is a boutique team of event professionals with over 25 years of collective experience in live events, with a passion and expertise for providing live streaming, video production, social media integration, content creation and digital media solutions.

Website: www.createengage.com.au Social Media: @createengage

LUMI ENTEGY Entegy’s technology suite streamlines communications, strengthens engagement and simplifies logistics for events of all sizes and budgets.

Website: www.entegy.com.au Social Media: @Entegy

ETOUCHES With more than 18 years in the Asia-Pacific region, etouches delivers innovative event technology solutions.

Website: www.etouches.com.au Social Media: @etouches

Lumi supplies instant polling technology. Through its intuitive event app, the company helps turn passive attendees into active, engaged participants.

Website: www.lumiglobal.com Social Media: @lumiglobal

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hot 100 13. Best Photographers and Videographers

DAMIAN FORD The team is dedicated to capturing memorable moments that will meet both your needs and your client’s expectations.

Website: www.dfphotography.com.au Social Media: @damienfordphotography

ONEILL PHOTOGRAPHICS A unique collective of exceptional photographic talent with a 15year history of immortalising events across Australia.

Website: www.oneillphotographics. com.au Social Media: @oneillphotographics

TRAPDOOR PRODUCTIONS CREATE ENGAGE

PURPLEMONKY

Create Engage is a boutique team of event professionals with a passion for providing live streaming, video production, social media integration, content creation and digital media solutions.

Website: www.createengage.com.au Social Media: @createengage

PurpleMonky are Melbournebased film makers, video editors and animators who deliver high quality corporate, training and promotional videos with a focus on digital film communication.

Website: www.puplemonky.com.au Social Media: @purplemonkyofficial

32 Spice August 2017

Trapdoor Productions works with international clients, brands and agencies to help them bring their video campaigns to life with powerful marketing strategies and creative concepts.

Website: www.trapdoorproductions. com.au Social Media: @trapdoorvideo

14. Best Beverage Caterers

KUBARZ

SWEET&CHILLI Sweet&Chilli provides cocktail bar hire, exceptional bartenders and sublime drinks service.

Website: www. sweetandchilli.com Social Media: @sweetandchillidrinks

Kubarz is a one stop shop for functions, parties, weddings and events offering beverage packages, bartenders, waiters, cocktails, mobile bars, catering and more.

Website: www. kubarz.com.au Social Media: @kubarz

KEGS ON LEGS

COFFEE ON CUE

Kegs on Legs provide an all-inclusive mobile catering service offering packages with a wide range of options including unlimited drinks, canapĂŠs and fresh made-toorder cocktails.

Website: www. kegsonlegs.com.au Social Media: @kegsonlegs

Coffee On Cue is a specialist in coffee cart and machine hire throughout Melbourne. It services everything from conferences and tradeshows through to corporate events and activations.

Website: www. coffeeoncue.com.au Social Media: @coffeeoncue

LIQUID INFUSION Liquid Infusion is Australia’s original and premier mobile bar service offering authentic cocktail, coffee and juice bar experiences to our guests.

Website: www. liquidinfusion.com.au Social Media: @ liquidinfusionmobilebar

Return signed proof to Art Studio, Movie World.

MEGA FUN VENUES AT VILLAGE ROADSHOW THEME PARKS

Call 07 5591 0020, email ConferencesAndEvents@vrtp.com.au or visit themeparks.com.au/conferencesandevents

1707155

With a choice of six unique properties famous for their exhilarating rides, exciting shows, amazing animals and spectacular theming; Village Roadshow Theme Parks will transform your next conference into a truly amazing and unique experience.

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hot 100 15. Best Boats and Cruising Venues

SYDNEY GLASS ISLAND Sydney Glass Island makes for an unforgettable venue for your next event.

With an unrestricted 350 degree outlook, guests on board will experience breathtaking harbour views throughout the duration of the event.

Website: www.sydneyglassisland.com.au Social Media: @sgi.com.au

CAPTAIN COOK CRUISES A range of daily sightseeing, ferry and dining cruises and charter vessels across a fleet of over 15 boats on Sydney Harbour.

Website: www.captaincook.com.au Social Media: @captaincookcruises

THE ISLAND FLAGSHIP CRUISES

SEADECK SYDNEY HARBOUR

Providing Sydney Harbour luxury boat hire and yacht charter for up to 1,000 passengers.

Website: www.flagshipcruises.com.au Social Media: @flagshipcruises

Enjoy 360 degree views of the harbour, as you impress your guests with impeccable 5 star service.

Website: www.seadeck.com.au Social Media: @seadeck_sydney

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A floating open-air space which fuses European beach club culture and five star service with an iconic Australian backdrop.

Website: www.theislandsydney.com.au Social Media: @theislandsydney

16. Best PR and Marketing

ZADRO

POLKADOT PR Polkadot PR works with clients who seek intelligent strategies and clever publicity to capture market share for their brands, products and services.

Website: www. polkadotpr.com.au Social Media: @polkadot_pr

Zadro is an integrated communications agency, focused on delivering strong client outcomes through insightful strategy, marketing, digital and design.

If you know what you need, Zadro will make it happen.

Website: www. zadroagency.com.au Social Media: @zadro_agency

SWEATY BETTY PR

MILESTONE CREATIVE

Sweaty Betty PR is a leading public relations agency specialising in publicity, brand awareness, digital PR, product launches and event management.

Website: www. sweatybettypr.com Social Media: @sweatybettypr

Milestone Creative is a specialist marketing, creative, digital, social media and PR agency for events, arts, tourism and creative industries.

Website: www. milestonecreative. com.au Social Media: @milestonecreatv

KDPR KDPR strives to help businesses of all sizes and from all sectors better communicate with their audiences through strategic advice and creative solutions across PR, design and digital.

Website: www.kdpr. com.au Social Media: @kdpublicrelations

17. Best Fireworks, Lighting and Visual Effects

FOTI INTERNATIONAL FIREWORKS Foti is a proud family operation that is equipped to deliver the most comprehensive fireworks, pyrotechnics and special effects service available.

Website: www. fotifireworks.com.au Social Media: @fotifireworks

SKYLIGHTER FIREWORX

HOWARD AND SONS PYROTECHNICS DISPLAYS

Queensland owned Skylighter FireworX produces innovative fireworks displays, exciting sports activations and magical wedding pyrotechnics.

Website: www. skylighter.com.au Social Media: @skylighterfireworks

Howard and Sons Pyrotechnics are imagineers, producers and providers of spectacular fireworks and dazzling special effects.

Website: www. howardsfireworks. com.au Social Media: @HowardsFirework

TDC – TECHNICAL DIRECTION COMPANY 32 HUNDRED LIGHTING Established in 1988, 32 hundred Lighting has led the way on the Australian and Asia Pacific event scene ever since.

Website: www.32hundred lighting.com Social Media: @32hundredlx

TDC provides a broad range of video technology resources and runs a combination of the most impressive eet of LED screens and large scale projection equipment.

Website: www.tdc. com.au Social Media: @technical directioncompany

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hot 100 18. Best Event Technology

SPRINTR From conferences, exhibitions and roadshows to galas and special events, Sprintr provides revolutionary solutions for onsite registration, name badge printing and event app technology.

Website: www.sprintr.com.au Social Media: @sprintrbyav1

LOOPD A wireless wearable sensor designed for attendee networking, content exchange and activity tracking.

Website: www.etouches.com Social Media: @etouches

MASH MACHINE MUSION BY HAYCOM Haycom is the exclusive distributor of Musion’s holographic projection technology in Australia.

Website: www.haycom.com Social Media: @haycom_

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Mash Machine turns your guests into DJs. Move the controllers across the surface. Make cool music. Get social with strangers.

Website: www.mashmachine.com.au Social Media: @mashmachine_aus

EVENT POLL BY STAGING CONNECTIONS Event Poll allows attendees to ask questions and receive feedback in real time.

Website: www.stagingconnections.com Social Media: @stagingconnections

19. Best Event Transport

CTL EVENT MANAGEMENT

GAFFNEYS EVENT LOGISTICS Gaffneys is an Australian exhibition and logistics company, who specialises in freight forwarding, storage and on site logistics management.

Website: www.gaffneys.com.au Social Media: @gaffneyslogistics

CTL Event Management is one of Australia’s most reliable transport and logistics managements companies who specialise in servicing Australia’s event industry.

Website: www.ctl.com.au Social Media: N/A

MURRAYS Murrays Coaches, Buses and Limousines has become one of the ground transport providers of choice for many of the country’s largest corporations, sporting organisations, travel agents and MICE organisers.

Website: www.murrays.com.au Social Media: N/A

GIEVES Gieves provides qualified staff offering a wide range of services including concierge staff, point parking staff and licensed traffic controllers.

Website: www.gieves.com.au Social Media: N/A

LIMOSO Limoso holds the largest privately owned fleet and provides high-end corporate transport for every occasion.

Website: www.limoso.com.au Social Media: @limosaustralia

www.spicenews.com.au 37

hot 100 20. Best Amusement Hire and Venues

PLANET ENTERTAINMENT MERLIN EVENTS – MADAME TUSSAUDS SYDNEY Roll out the red carpet for a star studded event at Madame Tussauds, Sydney’s most interactive event experience. Guests will rub shoulders with over 80 celebrity figures and snap pictures all night long!

Website: www.merlinevents.com.au Social Media: @merlinevents

LUNA PARK VENUES Luna Park Sydney is where you experience the magic — stage a gala for thousands of conference delegates, host a dream wedding or throw a party for the kids.

Website: www.lunaparksydney.com Social Media: @lunaparksydney

From jumping castles to inflatable courses; mechanical bulls to carnival rides, Planet Entertainment is an amusement hire company that caters to all your entertainment needs.

Website: www.planetentertainment. com.au Social Media: @planetentertainment

ACTION EVENTS Melbourne-based Action Events has been in the industry for more than 25 years and provides a comprehensive range of carnival rides for hire.

Website: www.actionevents.com.au Social Media: @actioneventsaustralia

SEAWORLD GOLD COAST SeaWorld is a premier marine animal park offering amazing attractions and rides for all ages.

Website: www.seaworld.com.au Social Media: @seaworldgoldcoast

38 Spice August 2017

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Magical

MARLBOROUGH Ice blue waters brimming with aquaculture and exotic wildlife; a premier wine offering that is world renowned; and an emerging reputation for fine dining and fresh produce – all this and so much more is waiting for you in Marlborough, as Bonnie Tai discovered.

W

hen Scotsman David Herd planted the first grapes in Marlborough’s southern valleys in 1873 in an effort to prove the region was capable of producing wine – everything changed. Today, Marlborough’s wine scene is front row and centre on the world stage, with wineries such as Brancott Estate, Cloudy Bay and Allan Scott now household names globally.

Aside from its reputation of producing fine wine and food, the Marlborough region is also out to impress with its pristine wilderness areas and awe-inspiring Sounds. In fact, the whole region is pretty much the embodiment of a typical 100 per cent Pure New Zealand campaign: serene, idyllic and breathtakingly beautiful.

Arbour Located in Blenheim, the Marlborough region’s most densely populated township, Arbour is a local favourite – and for good reason.

The best of Marlborough’s produce is on show here (think Cloudy Bay clams all the way through to Ora King Salmon), with the ingredients expertly prepared and executed by chef Bradley Hornby and his talented team.

The dishes, when plated, are works of art and look almost too good to eat (almost). Arbour’s ‘Just Feed Me’ menu offers a choice of between three and seven courses which are all created using fresh, seasonal produce.

The meals are light but filling and the flavours are expertly balanced. To impress a VIP client, book in a prep bench experience, where guests can dine inside the kitchen and watch the chefs work their magic.

Chateau Marlborough

Beautiful plating at Arbour.

40 Spice August 2017

Chateau Marlborough makes for a perfect spot to rest your head whilst in the region for business. The 5-star boutique lodging offers 80 keys, and is situated just a short stroll from neighbouring Marlborough Convention Centre and Blenheim’s CBD. Each room is well appointed and comes complete with a Sleepmaker Heavenly Bed,

Bay of Many Coves Resort.

which we can attest, makes for one of the comfiest sleeps in town.

Bay of Many Coves Resort Situated in the heart of the Marlborough Sounds, Bay of Many Coves Resort has to be seen to be believed. The secluded hideaway forms part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World portfolio, and can only be accessed by way of boat or helicopter.

Each suite comes complete with a private balcony with panoramic views of the bay, beautiful linens (over $5,000 worth on each bed we’re told), king sized beds and warm wooden interiors. The luxury resort also offers a number of onsite activities such as bush walking; glow worm experiences; kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding.

While you’re visiting, make sure you check out the resort’s award-winning onsite

Hotspots On board Marlborough Tour Company's scenic sefood cruise.

The Marlborough Sounds at dusk.

restaurant Foredeck to sample some of the best locally sourced produce in the region.

Bike the Vines with Explore Marlborough You shouldn’t drink and drive – but with Explore Marlborough, you can sip and ride.

The company is the only one in the region which offers guided wine tours by bike, meaning you can take in the Marlborough’s gorgeous views whilst tasting your way through the region’s finest tasting rooms.

The terrain is gentle and the tour operates at a very leisurely pace. Both half and full day itineraries are available.

“The whole region is pretty much the embodiment of a typical 100 per cent Pure New Zealand campaign: serene, idyllic and breathtakingly beautiful.”

Marlborough Convention Centre.

Marlborough Convention Centre Situated in Blenheim, the Marlborough Convention Centre makes for a great venue to hold your next event. Whether it's for an intimate gathering or a grand gala dinner, this purpose built convention centre makes for a fantastic option. Onsite features include a pre function space; three various hall sizes with moveable walls; seating for up to 560 delegates theatre style; and an experienced event management and operations team to assist you in running a seamless event.

Scenic and seafood Cruise with Marlborough Tour Company Marlborough Tour Company runs an assortment of scenic seafood cruises within the Marlborough Sounds, which allow guests to take in the panoramic views of the bays, all the while tucking into a freshly shucked Cloudy Bay clam or Greenshell Mussel (paired with Marlborough sauvignon blanc of course). Cruises depart from either Picton or Havelock and explore the Pelorus Sound, Kenepuru Sound and the Queen Charlotte Sound.

During the cruise, groups will be able to experience aquaculture farms, stop off at a remote beach, or go fishing or kayaking.

And if you're lucky you may even see dolphins frolicking in the waters. n www.spicenews.com.au 41

NZ update Auckland gets new premier waterfront venue

WHAT’S NEW IN

AOTEAROA? From its vast selection of wine regions through to its many adventure tourism offerings our friends from across the ditch have a lot to offer the MICE industry. Here’s a rundown on all that’s new and upcoming in the land of the long white cloud.

Christchurch Centre on track to open by 2020

A

fter a slow start, construction of the Christchurch Centre is fi nally underway, with plans to open by late 2020.

The Christchurch Centre is capable of hosting up to 2,000 delegates and is within easy walking distance of city hotels.

The main entrance to the Centre opens out to Christchurch’s picturesque Ōtākaro Avon River, and has been designed to reflect the fluid curves of the South Island’s braided rivers.

Its tiered 1,400 delegate auditorium is perfect for large plenary sessions and can be scaled to allow up to three events to run concurrently.

There are break-out spaces in meeting rooms, a purpose-built banqueting area, an exhibition hall, public circulation space allows for informal meetings and comfortable pre-event gathering spaces.

Fire ignites Christchurch Adventure Park’s determination to come back bigger and better The Christchurch Adventure Park was open just eight weeks before the February Port Hills fires ravaged through the premises destroying much of the park’s formerly verdant pine forest.

42 Spice August 2017

ASB Waterfront Theatre in Auckland opened its doors in September last year after more than a decade of planning.

It boasts a 668-seat auditorium with outstanding acoustics, an executive meeting lounge with a gallery of New Zealand visual art, a spacious atrium, outdoor courtyard and cafe.

The NZ$36 million venue — which is the first Southern Hemisphere theatre to be designed to come with a 5 Green Star rating - is situated in Auckland’s thriving Wynyard Quarter precinct and comes complete with secret trap doors in its stage floors, dressing rooms for performers complete with private ensuites and an airbridge which connects the building to ASB North Wharf.

Attractions which sustained the most damage included the forest and mountain bike trails, the chairlift and haul rope, with the zip lines currently undergoing assessment.

“Approximately two thirds of the 360 hectare park was affected by the fire,” a spokesman from Christchurch Adventure Park told Spice Magazine.

“The fire crews did an amazing job and we are fortunate that the Adventure Park Village, including the café, was untouched by the fire.”

It is expected that the adventure park will be back up and running by summer.

Zip-lining at Christchurch Advenure Park

Napier Conference Centre now quake proof Napier Conference Centre, Hawke’s Bay’s premier venue for conferences and tradeshows, has undergone a full refurbishment in a bid to become quake safe.

The NZ$7m revamp also sees the picturesque waterfront venue expanded to include a larger foyer to provide room for registrations and the ballroom expanded by 4.6 metres to make room for larger conference groups.

The original exhibition hall has also received a fresh lick of paint, and a second larger exhibition hall has been constructed between the foyer and Ocean Spa. n

Auckland

In New Zealand everything is within easy reach. Our excellent facilities will cater to all your needs, and our beautiful country will take care of the rest. Our rich culture, exciting activities and unique natural landscapes can turn your conference into an event that will truly change perspectives.

A conference in New Zealand will go beyond your expectations.

Visit businessevents.newzealand.com

City of

DREAMS

Bonnie Tai heads to the dazzling city lights of Macao to discover all it has to offer the business events sector. As it turns out, if you can dream it, then it’s possible there…

“S

han gao, Huangdi yuan,” is an ancient Chinese proverb which loosely translates to “the mountains are high and the emperor is far away”. And the former Portuguese enclave of Macao quietly echoes this sentiment. Granted special administrative region status by the People’s Republic of China in 1999, Macau enjoys a high degree of autonomy from mother mainland, drawing in droves of tourists from all around the world every year eager to experience its unique tourism offerings.

Whilst Macao is certainly famous for its mega casinos – it is known as the Las Vegas of the Orient after all – it is the region’s unique blend of history and Eastmeets-West heritage that keeps people coming back for more.

The Historic Centre of Macao Multiculturalism and co-existence between Chinese and Portuguese cultures has been prevalent in Macao for more than 400 years.

As you enter the Historic Centre of Macao, China’s 31st UNESCO world heritage site, expect to see a collection of monuments such as churches and temples, monuments and urban squares that really tell the tale of the region’s unique fusion culture.

44 Spice August 2017

Must-see spots include A-Ma temple, a religious site erected in 1488 dedicated to the goddess of seafarers and fishermen; the Ruins of St Paul, a 17th century structure once known as one of the largest Catholic churches in Asia; and Dom Pedro V theatre, one of the first Western-style theatres in East Asia.

The Parisian's main lobby.

The Parisian Macao Hotel The tell-tale sign that you’ve arrived at The Parisian Macao Hotel, is the half sized Eiffel Tower replica that greets you at its entrance. The distinctly French theme follows you throughout the mega resort, with the lobby featuring an ornate dome inside the Rotunda and an exact model of Paris’ iconic Fontain de Mers fountain.

Inspired by all things luxurious and French, the region’s newest mega resort has a lot to offer the MICE industry.

There’s 5,200 sqm of meeting space; 3,400 sqm of ballroom space; direct access to Cotai Expo at sister property The Venetian; five meeting rooms; two board rooms, plus a dedicated support team to seamlessly executive your event.

The hotel is a destination in itself, with plenty of onsite activities to enjoy. Take in the views within the Eiffel Tower’s observation deck; catch a live show worthy

of London’s West-end at the Parisian Theatre; or shop to your heart’s content at one of the property’s 170 stores. www.parisianmacao.com

Nostalgia in Coloane Beyond the mega casinos and bright city lights of the Cotai Strip lies Coloane Village, a sleepy town dotted with narrow lanes, pastel Portuguesestyle houses and quaint shopfronts reminiscent of another time.

Exploring Coloane Village is a tranquil experience, where you can spend hours wandering through its many hidden laneways, weaving in and out of old temples and other historical sites.

If you don’t have a lot of time in Coloane, The Macao Government Tourism Office

Hotspot The Ruins of St Paul at the Historic Centre of Macao.

Street performers entertain passers-by at The Venetian.

Need to know Currency: HKD & MOP

Official languages: Cantonese, Portugese Access: Macau offers VISA free access from over 75 countries including Australia.

Weather: Humid, subtropical Getting there: There are currently no direct flights from Australia to Macau.

It’s recommended that you enter via Hong Kong International airport then board the Cotai waterjet for a quick journey through to Macao.

While many were experimenting with egg tarts at the time, most were influenced by the British custard tart and featured short crusts.

However, Andrew created his own recipe, derived from the Portuguese Pasteis de Nata recipe, which features flaky pastry crusts, enticing egg custard centres and a crispy crème brulee top.

The invention was a hit, with Andrew opening the now iconic Lord Stow’s Bakery in Coloane Village in 1989. Today the bakery has been franchised, serving a whopping 14,000 tarts a day. You can try them for yourself at the original location located at 1 Rua do Tassara or at The Venetian Macao.

A-Ma Cultural Village and Statue Egg Tarts: World famous in Macau.

has a 30 minute walking tour itinerary that takes you to the village’s top sites.

Attractions to explore include the Ancient Temple of Kun lam, which was built during the reign of Emperor Jiaqing by local sea traders; the Tin Hau temple, the oldest religious site on the island; and the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier, a brightly coloured monument dedicated to a Jesuit missionary who lived and died on an island near Macau.

Lord Stows Egg Tarts There’s one pastry that has become synonymous with Macao’s vibrant food scene: the humble egg tart.

While this iconic treat is often considered a Portuguese import, the invention was actually the brainchild of English pastry chef Andrew Stow.

Standing atop Alto de Coloane at a whopping 20 metres high is the world’s largest statue of A-Ma, the goddess of seafarers.

Constructed from white jade in 1999, the monument pays homage to Macao’s rich maritime history, its namesake, and is symbolic of the region’s transfer A-Ma statue.

of sovereignty back to China from Portuguese rule.

Within walking distance of the monument is the A-Ma Cultural Village, a 7,000 sqm complex comprised of a pavilion-style front gate; a carved marble altar; a bell tower; and the intricate Tin Hau Palace.

Unlike Macao’s other temples, the palace is a relatively new complex constructed out of wood and stone and, despite its aged appearance, is in fact an imitation of an ancient building.

The Cotai Waterjet Travel in style between Hong Kong and Macau aboard the Cotai waterjet.

The high-speed service offers around 80 transfers per day between the Hong Kong Macau Ferry terminal, Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal, Hong Kong Airport Skypier, Macau Taipa Temporary Ferry terminal and the Macau Outer Harbour Ferry terminal. www.cotaiwaterjet.com

Sands Resorts Cotai Strip Sands Resorts Macao is made up of eight resorts comprised of The Venetian; The Parisian; Sands Macao; Holiday Inn; Conrad; Sheraton Grand; St Regis; Four Seasons and their combined 12,000 rooms and 850+ shopping outlets.

The Venetian, is one of the Cotai Strip’s headliners, and was ‘designed from the ground up’ with event planners and PCOs in mind. Venues on site include the Cotai Expo which offers more than 75,000 sqm of exhibition space; Asia’s largest ballroom with 6,500 sqm of pillar-free space; 108 meeting rooms, and the Cotai Arena which seats up to 15,000. http://en.sandsresortsmacao.com n www.spicenews.com.au 45

CHILLING OUT IN

Byron Bay Why do so many Australians choose to head to Byron Bay every year? Could it be its coastal strip of picturesque beaches? Or perhaps we're just a little bit in love with its humble beginnings as Australia’s peace and love capital.

It’s all that, of course, but mostly it’s the vibe that keeps holidaymakers coming back for more. Here, your city slicker worries just melt away as Bonnie Tai discovered.

46 Spice August 2017

Hotspot Eat

Activity

Activity

Beach Byron Bay

Cape Byron Light Walk

Osprey Spa

Uninterrupted ocean views, fantastic food

The Cape Byron Light Walk is a must-do

Feel the stressors of city living melt away with

and friendly wait staff: all this and more

when visiting the picturesque region. Built in

a full body treatment at Osprey Spa.

awaits you at Beach Byron Bay restaurant.

the 19th Century, the lighthouse sits at the most easterly point of Australia and is also

Choose from a variety of head-to-toe

The menu – which is centered on fresh, seasonal produce – is simple but sumptuous.

To whet your appetite, start off with the raw fish with radicchio and pomelo or the Byron Bay burrata with char grilled zucchini.

There is also a takeaway kiosk available so you can enjoy your lunch on the beach.

Activity

its most powerful beacon. From above you will be able to witness marine life including dolphins and turtles, and during May-Oct, humpback whales are also a common sight. To get your heart pumping, start from outside the Beach Hotel on Jonson Street.

treatments inspired by nature like an aromatherapy relaxation massage; a rainforest revival ritual; or perhaps a vitamininfused body and face treatment.

Osprey Rituals are designed to be enjoyed alone or in a double therapy suite with a friend or partner.

Stay

Elements of Byron Featuring 193 luxury villas sprinkled across 22 hectares of beachfront, Elements of Byron is out to impress.

The resort is an ecological hotspot, and features four unique ecologies: rainforest, dunal, wetland and eucalypt. The property also backs onto Belongil Creek, an estuary

Cape Byron Kayaks

home to a range of rare and endangered

Explore Byron Bay’s famous marine

nesting shore birds.

reserve with Cape Byron Kayaks. The

The only problem with staying at Elements is

Bay is thought to be home to some 300

that you simply don’t want to leave. Luckily,

residential dolphins, sea turtles – and during

the resort offers a number of wellness inspired

the right season – whales. An estimated

activities on site to enjoy. These include

90 per cent of guests who embark on a

rainforest tours; bird, beach and history tours;

guided tour with Cape Byron Kayaks report

horse riding, yoga and fitness circuits.

seeing dolphins, a friendly guide tells Spice

Come October this year a further 99 villas will

Magazine, with those who miss out invited back to try again for free.

Activity

be added to the property, alongside a new adults only pool and an Eco Education Hub.

Crystal Castle and Shambhala Gardens Find zen and balance at Crystal Castle, just a short drive away in Mullumbimby. The tranquil destination is home to the Crystal Guardians, a pair of the world’s tallest smoky quartz geodes, which watch over the property and stand at an impressive 5.5 metres high.

First realized in 1986 by eccentric architect Edwin Kingsbury, the site went on to become the headquarters of Australia’s first crystal importer Crystalight before evolving into the Crystal Castle we know today. Daily, flocks of visitors make their way to Crystal Castle to find peace, enrich their spirits and marvel at the attraction’s collection of crystal formations from all around the world.

When visiting, make sure you check out the Kalachakra World Peace Stupa (the only one in the Southern hemisphere); embark on a Buddha walk and experience a peace ceremony. Crystal Castle also welcomes groups of 10 or more. www.spicenews.com.au 47

All images supplied courtesy of photographer Belinda Rolland.

Courtney Fitzgerald –Power, the woman behind Sydney based event design studio MARK MAKERS, has been in the business of crafting events for the last six years.

Here, she shares with Spice Magazine the challenges she has had to overcome when first launching, and how she plans to to take MARK MAKERS to new heights.

MARK MAKERS event design studio Who started the business?

I started MARK MAKERS event design studio, and we’re just about to have our first birthday.

What services do you offer and to whom?

We are an event design studio offering clients luxury services to create memorable and meaningful experiences.

We offer bespoke styling, sourcing, concept design and execution services for events including; florals, linen, furniture, lighting, stationery, food styling, custom elements and builds, branding and everything in between.

We mostly work with corporate clients as we specialise in brand experiences, activations, product and media launches, however, we also love to create spectacular weddings and commitment ceremonies, birthdays, showers and dinners for private clients too.

What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in the business?

When you’re starting a business you realise how many components and people it takes to create a well-oiled machine. Just today, I worked on social media management plans, accounts, administration, business development, building websites, and that’s all before we’ve even touched an event.

48 Spice August 2017

Insider

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

What has been the biggest event you’ve worked on?

We were lucky enough to be recommended to collaborate on Dark Mofo this year. It was an incredibly creative experience and one spent surrounded by some seriously, extraordinary humans. We designed an intimate dinner for a curated guest list of media, who were then taken on a journey through Welcome Stranger; an exhilarating, late-night adventure of secret venues each with a different mood, fragrance and cocktail.

What are the biggest trends in your industry?

My favourite event design trends at the moment are very floral and foliage based, particularly working with seasonal florals en masse – it’s just the most decadent expression and I’m obsessed. I also love to work with a heavily textural aesthetic with rich materials like velvet, brass and stone.

What do you love most about the industry?

I won’t attempt to paraphrase Maya Angelou, but this quote really resonates with me; “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

This is without a doubt my favourite part of working in the events industry. We creatively direct everything our guests see,

smell, hear, taste and feel in the space – and we want to make it unforgettable.

Where do you see your business going in the next five years?

In five years’ time, I have no doubt we will be continuing to make our mark on the event design industry. The dream would be — although we create unique experiences each time — to reach a point where our work is instantly recognisable that it’s an event by MARK MAKERS event design studio.

If you could tell clients one thing, what would it be?

Everything is doable. We're a solution focused team but when things crop up that are unavoidable, we roll with the punches and figure it out.

Sometimes the creative decisions you make in the heat of the moment, are the ones that are the most memorable. n www.spicenews.com.au 49

Last Word

Kitchen character Chef and educator Victor Pisapia has brought his own brand of chutzpah to the corporate world for well over a decade. Here he shares with Spice his business journey and some of the lessons he’s learned along the way.

A

fter letting go of his first team building company Cheeky Food Group, Victor knew in his heart of hearts there wasn’t any other industry he wanted to be part of more than the food experience sector. With that knowledge in mind, he formed a partnership with general manager Jim Bahr in 2008 and thus VictorsFood was born.

While the corporate cooking school has enjoyed many years of success in the business, it has not been without challenges, Victor explained. But he credited his team’s ability to evolve and mature alongside the fast-moving industry as key to staying in the game.

had to be translated into Mandarin and delivered with cultural sensitivity.

“Working through diverse cultures brings people together but, at the same time, there are certain expectations that are expected to take place to keep clients comfortable and happy,” he said.

“Personally, my biggest challenge at that event was standing with each person and taking a photo my face was about to fall off from smiling so much,” he laughed.

Victor advised that when it came to hosting experiential food events for the Asian market, a concentration on authentic Australian ingredients was “essential”.

“They want Australian products as well as clean, healthy and fresh ingredients.”

To combat the age old dilemma of ever-shrinking budgets, Victor’s team has had to get a little creative with their product offering.

“We have resolved this mostly by offering an introduction event called Flash Feast which incorporated our team activity in a

“Food brings people together – always has and always will.”

“The events industry is always changing and you have to be able to change with it,” he said.“The big opportunities are finding a way to work within the cultural diversity of big incentive groups and being innovative enough with them to bring out their creativity in a fun activity.”

Perhaps one of the most complicated events Victor has worked on involved a 600-strong Chinese incentive group where all the recipes 50 Spice August 2017

smaller time span with fewer recipes, but still has the wow factor of our bigger events,” he said.

When asked what made the world of experiential cooking so attractive to incentive groups, Victor replied: “Cooking made us human”.

“It gave us the skill to bond people together, to create and accept diversity and to communicate in a non-threatening way.

Food brings people together – always has and always will”. n

Looking for a memorable venue for your next event?

Offering over 55 world class venues and 80 unique private dining spaces across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane & Perth.

Enquire with the Rockpool Events & Catering team today about your next event.

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