Spice - May 2018 by The Intermedia Group

Issue 81 – May – 2018

HOT 100 HOTELS, RESORTS AND VENUES

It’s back! Find out who made the 2018 hot list here

Cuisine for Conservation EPICURE aims to create Australia’s first 100% green catering service

Destination hotspots Vietnam Perth Adelaide Food glorious food The experts discuss the latest trends in F&B

Contents

10 May 2018

Upfront Meet Cafe del Mar’s new Michelin Star chef

Cover story EPICURE plates up ‘cuisine for conservation’ at Taronga Zoo

Food glorious food Find out what’s trending in food and beverage

Bid Fund 101 Learn more about the government’s multi-million dollar bid fund

Hot 100 Hotels, Resorts and Venues And the winners are...

Hotspots Adelaide, Perth and Vietnam should be on your radar - find out why here

Insider Spice profiles JRM Hospitality, a multi-faceted hospitality firm led by renowned chef James Metcalfe

Last Word Darryl Lovegrove shares his career journey

www.spicenews.com.au 3

Editor’s Note

Soul Food

here’s a lot of power in food. It can heal the sick, it can take you back to a moment in time and it can also inspire creativity. And in this edition we celebrate the chefs and cooks that do just that. On page five we say hello to Damien Brassel, a Michelin Star chef with a penchant for creative platings, decadent desserts, and locally sourced produce. On page 10 we sit down with EPICURE’s executive chef Gursu Mertel to discuss the catering firm’s new Taronga contract and how they are putting sustainability at the heart of all its

operations. And on page 14, we meet five mothers who are sharing generations’ old recipes with guests staying at The Anam, a luxury resort situated in Nha Trang, Vietnam. In this edition, we also welcome back our hotly anticipated Hot 100 Resorts, Hotels and Venues list. We run this feature annually, and this time, we’ve garnered the biggest response yet from you, our readers. As always, the food and beverage edition has been a blast to put together for you. So I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed compiling it.

Bonnie van Dorp Editor Managing Director Simon Grover Publisher James Wells Editor Bonnie Tai bvandorp@intermedia.com.au Managing Editor James Wilkinson jwilkinson@intermedia.com.au

Spice Magazine Team

National Sales Team Katherine Ross, Charlotte Marshall Head of Circulation Chris Blacklock

Group sales and marketing manager Katherine Ross

Sales and marketing manager

Graphic Designer

Charlotte Marshall

Alyssa Coundouris

ph 1800 651 422

+ 61 2 8586 6176

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Production Manager

kross@intermedia.com.au

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SPICE Magazine is published by The Food and Beverage Media Pty Ltd (ABN 81 163 792 292) 41 Bridge Road, Glebe NSW 2037 ph: 02 9660 2113, fax: 02 9660 4419 ISSN 1832-7176 4 Spice May 2018

Spice Magazine and spicenews.com.au are proud media partners of:

2018

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Upfront

Damien Brassel

The Golden Moon

Michelin Star Chef takes reins at Cafe del Mar

amien Brassel knew he wanted to be a chef from the age of five. Twenty-six years on, he’s garnered an impressive reputation in the global hospitality scene, having worked with some of the world’s leading chefs including Heston Blumenthal, Gordon Ramsey, Marco Pierre White, Patrick Guilbaud, Pascal Sanchez and Martin Heirerling among others. He lists Blumenthal and Heierling as “big inspirations” in his career. “I came back to Australia with Martin Heierling. He was my culinary director at Rockpool. He has shaped my career in a lot of ways, especially from the business side of things, which I think

every chef has to understand. If you don’t understand the business you can’t run it.” Today, Brassel is the Executive Chef at Cafe del Mar, a Darling Harbour-side venue in Sydney, where he has overhauled the menu and introduced a modern menu inspired by the Mediterranean palate. The menu is clean and produce driven and features fresh seafood sourced directly from Sydney’s famed Fish Markets. “That’s been the great part with Cafe del Mar — we’re so local to the fresh seafood at the Fish Markets.” Blumenthal’s creative influence is clear in the dessert portion of the menu, with Brassel introducing a selection of intricate after dinner treats, inspired by Cafe

del Mar’s sweeping views over the harbour. The Golden Moon, a highlight of the sweets portion of the menu, features a sphere of white chocolate, mascarpone cream, chocolate crumble, raspberry jelly and coffee sauce. The decadent dessert is served on dry ice and adds to the drama. Brassel said: “The opportunity to create amazing plating is like being an artist.” “People eat with their eyes. It’s drama on the table — like a show.” However, Brassel’s personal favourite on the menu is the Chocolate Sunset which is

comprised of milk chocolate mousse, salted caramel and roasted almond powder. The impressive menu is available for large groups and corporate events, with Brassel insisting that his team will put in the same level of care and consistency to the plating for that extra ‘wow factor’. “The functions at Cafe del Mar are unique. You just walk in here and you can see it’s all ready. You don’t have to bring a thing. “You’ve got a great view, a great wine list, and great service. And the food? The food just speaks for itself.” www.cafedelmar.com.au

Top five

most clicked

spicenews.com.au

GPJ Australia appointed to produce Invictus Games Sydney 2018

Four Seasons gearing up for 2018 Kuala Lumpur opening

Exhibitions pass over

The ceremonies will be

The luxury property will

Imagine Exhibitions in firing line over Real Bodies

control of the show to

held on the forecourt of

sit in close proximity to

Imagine Exhibitions

exhibition and event

the Sydney Opera House

the iconic Petronas Twin

management supplier

on 20 October and

Towers and the Kuala

Talk2 Media and Events

Qudos Bank Arena on 27

Lumpur City Centre

after almost 20 years at

of executed Chinese

women working in the

October respectively.

(KLCC).

the helm.

political prisoners.

audio visual industry.

AIME 2018 comes to a close

AIME 2019 will see Reed

is being accused of displaying the bodies

Event industry launches Women in AV Ahead of International Women’s Day, the events industry has come together to launch a new support network for

www.spicenews.com.au 5

Queenstown

While your delegates are falling in love with our natural beauty, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be working behind the scenes to ensure things run smoothly. New Zealand is easy to get around and boasts world-class accommodation, facilities and exhilarating activities in spectacular surrounds. Inspiration is right on your doorstep. Book your next conference in New Zealand.

Visit businessevents.newzealand.com

Upfront

Rare breed gin Gin is the spirit du jour but it’s not just any old bathtub blend. The cool kids are drinking artisan gins from Australian distilleries like Four Pillars (Yarra Valley, Vic) and Archie Rose (Rosebery, NSW).

Robotics

Co-dining spaces

It’s everywhere

With a view to fostering

from agriculture to

collaboration and facilitating

customer service. Ask

synchronicity, smart hoteliers

yourself: Can a robot

are creating spaces where

do my job? If the

delegates from all of their in-house

answer is yes, then it’s

conferences and events share

time to up skill and

breaks and eat lunch together.

replace yourself.

Childcare at conferences

Escape Rooms Say hello to the new team building. Increasingly difficult and sophisticated escape rooms like The Cipher Room in Newtown, NSW, are popping up around the country.

You want to stop the brain drain caused by childcare pressures on working parents? Easy: provide childcare at conferences.

Hard sell marketing copy If you aren’t telling a story, educating people, or providing helpful information with your marketing copy, you may want to rethink

Going up, going down

things. BUY BUY BUY doesn’t cut it anymore.

AV fails Surely we’re beyond this!

Lack of accessibility If you don’t have a change table that can take the weight of an adult, don’t have lifts or ramps, don’t

If your microphones don’t work or your speakers squawk, please invest in training your staff and upgrading your equipment.

have a disabled toilet and still have old fashioned signage that uses words rather than symbols, it’s time to update your space.

Churn and burn staffing mentality Think you can replace your staff with the next willing victim? Think again. Not only does word get out, there’s an increasing number of people

Lack of diversity in speaker line-ups

starting their own businesses.

If your speaker panel is all middle-aged white

Do you want an ex-employee

males, you are failing (unless it’s a conference

to be your new competitor?

for, and about, middle aged white males). www.spicenews.com.au 7

Spice Loves | New Openings

W Brisbane announces new opening date Marriott International has revealed that the highly-anticipated W Brisbane will open on 1 June, three months after its original launch date. Once open, the hotel will be Brisbane City’s first five-star property in 20 years, marking the re-entry of the international luxury brand into the Australian market. The W Brisbane will consist of 312 rooms, including 32 suites, as well as 595sqm of pillarless ballroom space, which will cater for large productions or conferences of up to 450 guests banquet style, or can be divided into three separate spaces for events of up to 150 guests. The brand’s signature Wet Deck offers an outdoor pool terrace and bar, overlooking the Brisbane River, while a signature restaurant will be able to up to seat 158 guests.

NOVOTEL MELBOURNE SOUTH WHARF OPENS DOORS The $150 million Novotel Melbourne South Wharf is officially welcoming its first guests. The hotel comprises 347 guestrooms and suites and is situated directly adjacent to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, which is currently undergoing a $350m expansion. General Manager Glen Erickson said Novotel Melbourne South Wharf would make an important contribution to the local hotel landscape, which was experiencing a resurgence with investment in new build hotels planned or underway. “This hotel's development, along with the MCEC expansion project, represents one of the largest and most significant infrastructure investments into Melbourne's tourism and convention industry,” said Mr Erickson.

SOUTHBANK NOVOTEL IS BRISBANE’S NEWEST MICE HOTEL Novotel Brisbane South Bank has welcomed its first guests, following three years of planning and construction. The 4.5 star property offers 238 rooms boasting views of the city and lush parklands. Each room will also take note from its cultural surroundings housing one of four iconic Brisbane images from South Bank Arbour to Kurilpa Bridge. For meetings, events and banquets, Novotel Brisbane South Bank will offer two flexible function rooms which can be used separately or combined to suit events from 17 – 145 attendees.

Hotel Indigo comes to Sydney A new build Hotel Indigo is set to open in Sydney Central in 2021. The 168-room hotel will have a restaurant, café and bar that will draw on distinctive local ingredients for their menus, echoing the produce markets that were located in Haymarket from the early 20th Century through to the 1980s. It will also include five suites, rooftop terraces for meetings and events with views over the city, and a gymnasium. The hotel’s design will draw on the Haymarket neighbourhood’s rich heritage. The cantilevered northern wing will provide a backdrop to its neighbour, the heritage-listed Corporation Building, while a grand artwork will become a distinctive external feature, celebrating the hotel’s location within the entertainment precinct.

8 Spice May 2018

Sydney to get a new 1500-seat theatre The NSW Government has confirmed its plans to convert the Powerhouse Museum site in Ultimo into a new 1,500-seat theatre designed to stage large-scale musicals. The Powerhouse Museum will be moved to Parramatta by 2023 as part of a major cultural centre redevelopment. The new theatre will join the Capitol and the Sydney Lyric in housing musical theatre productions. The 1,100-seat Theatre Royal at the MLC Centre has been closed since March 2016 due to a proposed redevelopment of the site. Live Performance Australia – a body that represents performing arts companies and producers – has welcomed the announcement of a new theatre in Ultimo, but called on the government to ensure that the Theatre Royal reopens. LPA chief executive Evelyn Richardson says,“Every day the Theatre Royal is closed is another missed opportunity for Sydney’s live performance industry and audiences, and the government should make reactivation of the site an immediate strategic priority for live performance in NSW. “Sydney has fallen way behind Melbourne when it comes to live performance venue capacity which is not only bad for Sydney but also impacts on audiences around the rest of the country. The NSW government cannot idly stand by and allow the demolition or downgrading of existing infrastructure,” said Richardson.

HYATT CENTRIC BRAND COMING SOON TO MELBOURNE Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced plans to introduce a new property located just minutes from the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and the Crown Entertainment complex. Hyatt Centric Melbourne is slated to open in 2020 and will feature 280 guestrooms and suites, a restaurant infused with locally inspired fare and a rooftop bar fit for celebration, featuring hand-crafted signature cocktails and views of Melbourne’s Yarra River and Southbank.

IHG set to open a dualbranded hotel in Melbourne IHG will open its first Australian dual-branded hotel in 2022, with the signing of Hotel Indigo Melbourne Little Collins and Holiday Inn Melbourne Bourke Street Mall. Currently trading as The Walk Arcade, the property will front onto Bourke Street Mall on one side and Little Collins St on the other, allowing Holiday Inn to make the most of the pedestrianised retail haven and Hotel Indigo to bring the edgy laneway neighbourhood to life. The $200 million mixed-use development will include international retail flagship stores and a combined 453-room hotel (181 in Hotel Indigo and 272 in Holiday Inn), which will feature F&B outlets, a gym, meeting spaces and a unique and distinct guest lobby and room experience for each brand. The overall development will enjoy shared back-of-house services and facilities that create common-sense efficiencies. www.spicenews.com.au 9

Cuisine for

Conservation

New innovative measures in the form of conservation cuisine at Taronga Zoo in Sydney are fast-tracking it to become carbon neutral by 2025. In August 2017 gourmet caterer, EPICURE, secured the coveted five-year contract at Taronga Zoo, to deliver high quality catering across the zoo’s restaurants, eateries and Taronga Centre.

haring the same passion for the environment, and aligning themselves with Taronga’s conservation goals, the EPICURE team has taken large steps to put sustainability at the heart of all its operations, including the commitment to create Australia’s fi rst 100 per cent green kitchen and catering service. From introducing fully bio-degradable packaging and eliminating the use of straws, every facet of the catering operations is being examined to see where a difference can be made in achieving Taronga’s sustainability goals whilst delivering the gourmet food EPICURE is known for. “It has long been a goal at Taronga Zoo to reduce reliance on single-use plastic packaging for food,” said Clinton Arthur, Venue Manager. “We are very pleased to be in a position where we are able

10 Spice May 2018

help achieve milestones like this and contribute to other environmental sustainability goals that Taronga has.” Many of the initiatives set up to drive Taronga’s carbon neutral 2025 goal have already begun, including making the zoo a plastic-free zone. EPICURE has adopted more environmentally friendly food packaging at all their retail sites, using fully bio-degradable Vegware packaging and reusable poly food baskets, stopping thousands of single-use containers from being used and going to landfill. You will no longer find drinking straws nor individual sauce packets – which have been replaced with dispensers — at any of the retail sites at the zoo. Juggler milk systems have also been introduced to the cafés across the zoo to reduce the number of plastic milk bottles used.

Cover Story

TRY IT AT HOME: MISO GLAZED SALMON CUTLET Ingredients. 200g responsibly sourced salmon cutlet Miso glaze: 100ml soy sauce 100ml red wine vinegar 100ml maple syrup 100g white miso paste Soba noodle salad: 1pkt buckwheat soba noodles 2 nori sheets Sliced 50g pickled ginger sliced 1tbs toasted white sesame seeds Sesame oil Sautéed Shemeji Mushroom and Edamame 200g Shemeji mushroom cleaned 100g podded edamame beans

Instructions 1. Heat the soy, vinegar and maple syrup in a pot then whisk through the miso paste. Allow to cool. 2. With a sharp knife remove the pin bones and spine from the middle of the cutlet. 3. When the paste is cool rub on the fish and marinate for at least 2 hours. 4. Seal the salmon in a frying pan the place into a hot oven and cook for 8 minutes. 5. Meanwhile boil soba noodles for 3 minutes or until tender, once cooked combine with nori pickled ginger sesame seeds and sesame oil. 6. For the mushrooms cut the woody stalks off the bottom and in a hot frying pan sautee and just before they’re cooked add the edamame beans. 7. Assemble on the plate and eat!

“It’s inspiring to create menus that come from a sustainable food approach that you know is having a broader impact” Reducing waste is another strong focal point of EPICURE’s operations, with the aim to introduce onsite composting machines to process biodegradable packaging and organic food waste from the kitchens. An e-wash water system has already been implemented in Forage and Graze café and The View restaurant, to ensure waste water is free from chemicals which can negatively impact waterways. The kitchens have switched to sustainable palm oil for cooking in order to contribute to preserving habitats for wildlife at risk of extinction. The commitment to the environment is not a new concept for the EPICURE team, whose primary passion for producing great tasting quality food centres on fresh seasonal produce and local flavour. The recent recruitment of experienced chef Gursu Mertel as Executive Chef for Taronga Zoo operations, has seen the superior offering of food at the zoo continue to excel as he introduces his creative flair to the menus. “It’s inspiring to create menus that come from a sustainable food approach that you know is having a broader impact. It makes sense that the food walks the talk with Taronga’s environmental conservation efforts and we enjoy making food that tastes good as well as feels good — ethically.” Gursu, who has over 15 years of international professional cooking and kitchen management experience spanning six restaurant openings and the management of five star hotels and integrated resort establishment, plays an important role in making sure that the retail and on-ground operations, are supported from a kitchen perspective and that conservation practices are reflected in the culinary programs of the zoo. For example, the Fish Stop and The View restaurant recently achieved Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Chain of Custody certification. Visitors to the zoo can now be sure that the seafood served is from fisheries that are fishing sustainably and support sustainable management of fish stocks and marine ecosystems. “We’re excited to join in Taronga’s vision to be a world leader in wildlife conservation; it only adds to the flavour of the food at Taronga,” said Gursu. n www.spicenews.com.au 11

Food Fixation There is power in food. Stories are shared and connections are made around good meals. Good food can even inspire people to pack their bags and jet off to another country, all in the name of a new culinary experience. There is no questioning that food provenance and event planning now go hand in hand as delegates and clients alike become savvier on all things to do with diet and nutrition. Read on to discover some of the exciting trends that you should take notice of.

12 Spice May 2018

Food and Beverage Vegans and vegetarians rejoice because a new 100% plant-based restaurant has set up shop in Sydney.

Alibi's menu is 100 per cent plant-based

Clean, Green and Cruelty-Free

libi, a cocktail bar housed within Ovolo Woolloomooloo in Sydney, has introduced a 100 per cent plant-based dining menu. The new cruelty-free venue is spearheaded by renowned US chef, restaurateur and global plant-based dining pioneer, Matthew Kenney. This is his first venture in Australia and it will have a seasonal, colourful and innovative menu designed to share alongside an exciting cocktail and wine programme. Kenney says he is confident that his plant-based philosophy will really take off in Sydney. “The lifestyle is already here, the products are here, the quality of

ingredients is incredible,” he said. Alibi's signature dishes include Kimchi Dumplings with Sesame and Ginger Foam, Heirloom Tomato and Zucchini Lasagna with Pistachio Pesto and a fun-take on the Roman classic pasta, Cacio e Pepe, with Kelp Noodles and Crispy Olives. Hibiscus Strawberry Cheesecake with Lime Curd, Vanilla Shortbread and a Sorrel Gel plus a deconstructed Tiramisu with Frozen Almond Chantilly rounds off the dessert menu. The new menu, overseen by Group Executive Chef, Kasper Christensen, ex-Noma Sydney, also extends to Ovolo Woolloomooloo's breakfast, room service and conferencing offering. n

Matthew Kenney

STEP OUTSIDE AT PULLMAN BUNKER BAY. Explore new 'Meet & Play' winter conference offers. Winner ‘Meeting, Exhibition or Event Venue - Capacity less than 500’ at 2017 WA Meeting & Events Australia Awards.

CONFERENCING

PULLMANBUNKERBAYRESORT.COM.AU OUR WORLD IS YOUR PLAYGROUND

IN THE MARGARET RIVER REGION

www.spicenews.com.au 13

Mama knows

BEST A Vietnamese 'mama' serving authentic cuisine to guests

Words: Bonnie van Dorp

s there anything more satisfying than a home cooked meal prepared by your mum? Not a lot. But what if you’re craving a little something prepared with a mother’s touch while you’re far from the comfort of home? Enter The Anam, a luxury hotel based in the emerging Vietnamese destination of Nha Trang, which has recruited five mothers to serve up authentic Vietnamese cuisine twice a week to guests staying at the resort. Dubbed ‘Mamas Cooking’, the concept was the creation of The Anam’s General Manager Herbert Laubichler-Pichler, who wanted to introduce guests to an authentic Vietnamese experience right onsite. “Most Asian resorts that feature local items make concessions to the foreign palate, so I thought that it would be great to be able to share how the Vietnamese truly eat day-to-day with our guests,” Herbert told Spice Magazine. “After being so kindly welcomed into the homes of locals and trying such incredible home-cooked meals, I asked our staff if their mothers would be willing to cook for our guests, as if they were cooking for their own families, on a regular basis.” Herbert said that when he first introduced the Mama’s Cooking concept, some of the staff had a few reservations about the idea. 14 Spice May 2018

Fast Facts n

The Anam is a five star resort overlooking 300 metres of beachfront on Vietnam’s Cam Ranh Peninsula

It boasts 117 villas and 96 rooms and suites

The resort is one of only six recognised by Worldhotels as ‘World Luxury’

Cam Ranh International Airport is located just 20 minutes away by car

Onsite amenities include conference rooms and a large ballroom, a tennis court and yoga room, three swimming pools, a luxury spa, a 3D movie theatre as well as a fine dining grill, a sports bar and a beach club

“But my mum can’t cook for the international guests, she only cooks for locals!” they would tell him. “Vietnamese people can be so shy and humble and not aware of the magnetism and power of their culture so I had to build their confidence and really emphasise that this would be an amazing experience for our guests,” he explained. Today, Mama’s Cooking is an institution at the resort. And it’s not hard to see why.

On the menu are Vietnamese classics such as grilled beef in betel leaf, Hue-style beef noodle soup and crispy Vietnamese pancake. The recipes are centuries old and handed down the generations. What makes the concept unique is that the women did not train as cooks, nor did they attend culinary school, or carry fancy titles. In fact, the mothers are instructed to simply re-create the same dishes that they would serve their own families at home. “I love all of the Mama’s dishes, but if I had to choose a favourite, it would have to be Bahn Xeo, the crispy, savoury Vietnamese pancakes. “Banh Xeo means ‘sizzling cake’, referring to the sound the pancake batter makes when it is added to the hot pan.” The mothers include Nguyen Thi Phuong, Nguyen Thi Nhiem and Vo Thi Xuan Huu – whose children are actually employed full time by the resort as front office shift leaders and in engineering administration. Mama’s Cooking is hosted at Lang Viet Restaurant and Bar, which is situated right at the ocean’s edge and surrounded by towering palm trees. By night, the venue comes alive with traditional musical performances. Mama’s Cooking is a concept that can also be made available to visiting MICE groups. n

Food and Beverage

Here’s our pick of the top five winery experiences in Australia

Winning at wine Incentives company Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia represents 21 noteworthy Australian wineries located in five states including Vic, NSW, Tas, WA and SA. 1/ Italian varietals at Pizzini Wines, King Valley, Victoria Located a 3-hour and 15 minute drive from Melbourne, or a one-hour and 20 minute drive from Albury Airport, Pizzini Wines is famous for its Italian varietals.

ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE: PRIVATE ITALIAN COOKING SCHOOL Following morning tea with Katrina Pizzini at the cellar door, head into A tavola! Cooking School where Katrina will lead a class, sharing the secrets to preparing traditional Italian style dishes. Taste exciting Italian wine varieties including Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and Canaiolo as they age in barrels, and then enjoy an Italian style lunch with your choice of wine – anything from a fresh Prosecco to an aged Nebbiolo from the family’s reserve range.

2/ Big reds at St Hugo, Barossa Valley, South Australia Located a one-hour drive from Adelaide, St Hugo is located in one of Australia’s oldest wine regions.

ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE Enjoy an exclusive Past, Present and Future wine tasting of six wines, where guests

delve into back, current and yet-to-be released vintages of St Hugo’s wines. Tour the vineyard, inspect cork trees and try your hand at extracting wine directly from the barrel. Complete your experience with our fourcourse degustation lunch, matched to St Hugo wines.

ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE: THE EPICUREAN TOUR This tour takes guests behind the scenes on winemaking, sharing unique historical insights into the region and all facets of wine production at Vasse Felix, followed by a tasting of the wine collection. After the wine tasting, enjoy a three course set menu, paired with wines. Finally, select a bottle of Vasse Felix Premier wine to take away and share with friends and family.

5/ Cool climate reds at Moorilla Estate, Hobart, Tasmania Located a 20-minute drive from Hobart, Moorilla Estate is the winery on the property adjoining MONA (Museum of Old and New Art).

ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE: MOORILLA’S POSH-AS DAY AT MONA Take the MR-1 Fast Ferry from Hobart to Mona. Travel in style in the fully-catered ‘Posh Pit’. Upon arrival, explore Mona’s collection. Take a private behind-the-scenes tour of the winery and vineyard before enjoying a tailored tasting of Moorilla’s Praxis and Muse Series. Afterwards, enjoy a two-course lunch at The Source Restaurant featuring matched wines from Moorilla’s benchmark Cloth Label and Muse Series. n

3/ Award-winning Australian sparkling at Josef Chromy, Tamar Valley, Tasmania Located a two-hour and 20 minute drive from Hobart, Josef Chromy makes sparkling wine that gives the world’s best Champagnes a run for their money.

ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE: GO BEHIND THE LABEL Go behind the label and explore the winemaking process from grape to glass. Taste some wines in their unfinished state before heading to the cellar door for a two course lunch of Tasmanian produce matched with Josef Chromy wines.

4/ New and old school Chardonnay at Vasse Felix, Margaret River, WA Located a three-hour drive (or a 50 minute flight) from Perth, Margaret River is known as one of Australia’s top gourmet destinations. www.spicenews.com.au 15

90’s early 00’s – but in reality the ‘boom’ in gin is an even more recent phenomenon – this decade. As classic cocktails become more recognised, gin will always grow in popularity because we make all the good ones. Negroni anyone?

Why is rare dry gin becoming so popular? Gin is a marvellous spirit as you can showcase the ‘terroir’ of a place by using botanicals indigenous to wherever you are making the gin. For that reason it is deliciously complex and also deliciously different. A gin made with lemon myrtle and Tasmanian pepper berry leaf could only come from one place.

What is special about Four Pillars?

The ‘in’ gin Craft gin has earned its place on the back bar of the world’s best bars. Key among them is Four Pillars, an Aussie brand with a big plan. Emma Castle catches up with co-founder Stu Gregor to talk about the history of gin and how a harebrained scheme between three mates became a global success story. 16 Spice May 2018

Where did gin originate? Who invented it? Gin was invented by Australians in 2013, when three bald blokes conjured up an idea to make it in the back of a mate’s winery in the Yarra Valley, on the outskirts of Melbourne … Or at least that’s what it feels like to me. Other people might suggest that Genever, the precursor to gin, was probably created in Belgium/Holland in the early 1600s, before travelling across the channel with William of Orange, to the UK in 1689.

When did it come back into vogue and why? Gin came back into vogue when the world got serious again about great cocktails, so I’m going to call that the turn of the most recent century – late

Four Pillars is special primarily because it is delicious, made with a lot of care and love in the best place in the world. The native indigenous flora of Australia give us some wonderful tools to use and we are wonderful makers of flavour in this country. All that and, Cam, our distiller, might just turn out to be the best in the world at making unique, delicious gins. Who’d have thought?

How should you drink gin? You can drink gin however you like but if you’re drinking Four Pillars Rare Dry (which you should be, by the way), you should garnish it with an orange because we use fresh organic oranges by the kilo in every single distillation, so it just makes sense. You should also use a great tonic water like Fever Tree.

What are some cocktails to try gin in? You should try a gimlet, a Southside, any type of martini you like, a Negroni made strong, a Corpse Reviver No.2 and a London Calling – you can find all the recipes online and at our website www. fourpillarsgin.com.au

When should you drink gin? Well, let’s see – you can have the by-product of making our gin, marmalade, for breakfast. You can have a cheeky G&T at lunchtime, a classic Gin Fizz mid-afternoon and settle into a round of Negronis and Martinis after dinner. The real question is when should you not drink gin? n

Food and Beverage

Provenance

Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon from Straight to the Source are revolutionising the way Australian chefs are being educated about produce. Emma Castle caught up with them to find out what’s happening in hospitality education and where the business is headed. 1/ Where do you think the knowledge gaps are in the Australian hospitality industry? Hospitality training for back and front-of-house career pathways have significantly improved over the past 10 years, both in quality and accessibility. However, one aspect of training that continues to be completely overlooked is learning about where the produce and ingredients that hospitality professionals source, prep, cook and serve come from and how they are produced. This is what inspired us to establish Straight To The Source.

2/ Who should understand provenance and production techniques involved in food? Is it just chefs or do floorstaff and management need to learn too? Everyone involved in running a business that serves any kind of food and beverages should have a clear understanding of where the food or beverage they are serving comes from and how they are produced. Understanding the provenance of what we eat and drink is inextricably tied to health, wellbeing,

animal welfare, environmental issues, food security, sustainability and politics. It is a topic that is growing in awareness and interest worldwide and one that the hospitality industry urgently needs to embrace.

3/ What are the best courses or tours you can do in Australia to learn more at an industry? Join a Straight to the Source tour! No seriously, there are a lack of courses and educational tools available. That’s where we’re hoping to make an impact.

4/ Which restaurants or chefs are leading the way in understanding produce? There is a lot of rhetoric in the industry about paddock-to-plate, farm-to-table but, at the end of the day, food costs and financial sustainability are the primary focus for restaurants and chefs, and ultimately influence purchasing decisions. Darren Templeman [executive chef, O Bar and Dining] is one of the chefs who educates his team about produce and connects with producers. n

RIGHT: Lucy Allon and Tawnya Bahr LEFT: Foraging foodies

www.spicenews.com.au 17

Food and Beverage Food photographer Honey Atkinson shares her pro tips on how to ace food photography with your smart phone.

Smart phone 101 food photography 1/ What is the key to a good food shot? Natural light, a simple scene (less is more) and good composition (follow the rule of thirds).

2/ Are there any tricks to getting a good shot with your smart phone?

“I shoot food on my phone the same as I do on my DSLR.” 18 Spice May 2018

Light - Find a position to shoot that has good natural light, not direct or harsh. You want soft and diffused. Good light is number one. Exposure and focus – Hold finger on screen when taking a photo to lock the focus point, this function also allows the option to lighten or darken a photo by sliding your finder up and down. Framing and rule of thirds – Switch on the 'grid' setting in your camera. Use grid lines to help compose your photo better. Try placing your key subject/scene on where the lines intersect. This can help to create balance, space and offer a more visually pleasing photo (Note: iPhone 'grid' can be found: Settings>Camera>Grid (switch on). Perspective – Try shooting different angles of the one shot. Shooting from above can make it easier to get an interesting shot when using your phone.

3/ What are some common mistakes people make when they try to shoot food? Shooting at night in a restaurant with a fluoro light.

4/ Filter or no filter? Definitely no filter. If you shoot a good, well-exposed image, you shouldn't have to use a heavy-handed filter to make it look good. Stick to using basic editing choices like increasing the contrast, brightness and clarity. Small adjustments can make a big, but subtle difference.

5/ Who should we follow on Instagram if we want to see some good examples of food shots? Petrina Tinsley – @petrinatinsley Sneh Roy – @cookrepublic

6/ Is it worth downloading editing apps for your smart phone? Instagram's app has some great editing features so you can get away with just using this. My other choices for editing are 'Photoshop' (free) and Lightroom ($4.99). I like to use these apps because I'm used to using Adobe programs on my desktop.

7/ And what about special lenses that you attach? Is it worth it? You can buy 'clip on' lenses but a decent one is $100+, so no, I don't think it's worth it. The newer iPhone has a camera setting called 'portrait' mode which allows you to focus on the subject and background goes blurry (adds fake depth of field), so it's kind of like having a lens.

8/ Flash or no flash? Never use a flash when you’re shooting food. Leave the flash for taking late-night selfies. LEFT: Before Lightroom app

9/ How do you normally shoot food? I shoot food on my phone the same as I do on my DSLR. Natural light coming through a single window/door that isn't direct/ hard light. I like to use natural scenes that catch my eye, but if I do set something up, I change between a few of my favourites: the wooden table in my kitchen because it's a part of 'my story', a piece of rough linen or

RIGHT: After running the photo through Lightroom

a piece of board from the hardware shop that I painted white.

10/ What is your favourite thing about shooting food? I enjoy each part of the process. I like prepping/cooking the food, arranging the

food so the light hits the most interesting shapes/textures of the food and, of course, eating really is the best part. For more information Food Photographer Honey Atkinson, visit www.honeyatkinson. com.au or follow @honeyatkinson n

DO YOU ORGANISE INTERNATIONAL EVENTS? From the highlands of Scotland, zig zagging through Europe, across the deserts of the gulf, the silk roads of Asia and it’s vast array of lazy Susan banquets of countries, across the Pacific onto Hawaii and the USA, the lights of Vegas, route 66 all on offer. Lets not forget the islands in the Pacific, Bula and Bonjour, NZ & South Africa complete the journey so far and much more to come. We are building the Get Global globe for you, all you gotta do is GET there!

www.getglobal.com.au www.spicenews.com.au 19

Industry Tradeshows

Get to Know: Get Global Why should buyers attend Get Global? We have attracted some of the biggest, best, luxurious, most untouched and unusual products from across the globe, all grouped together in geographical zones. Those looking to make a real impact for their delegates as they engage with key decision makers, discover new locations and start negotiating at the event.

How can buyers make the most out of their time at Get Global? As there are no set appointment times, buyers should come prepared with details of the events they have for the next 12 months and beyond. If they have a particular location in mind, research on the brands that are attending, but also keeping an open mind to chat to new or underexposed locations.

Are there any plans to expand the tradeshow into other states?

Spice sat down with Get Global co-founder Gary Bender to discuss the dedicated MICE tradeshow and what we can expect from this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event. Are you introducing anything new for the 2018 event? Yes! We listened to feedback from buyers and sellers after our inaugural event and have now partnered with ICMI to deliver an educational element to the event this year. Without leaving the exhibition floor, attendees will be able to listen to some of the brightest and most inspiring minds in business and travel today. We are also holding a stimulating breakfast at the recently opened Sofitel Darling Harbor hotel, next door to the ICC Sydney. Providing exceptional speakers, a great breakfast and connecting Get Global buyers before the doors open.

What makes Get Global different from other trade events? TOP: Get Global co-founders Donna Kessler and Gary Bender RIGHT: Get Global delegates at the 2017 official welcome

20 Spice May 2018

We really believe the format of Get Global delivers the maximum ROI for exhibitors and real business solutions for buyers. With no set appointment times, buyers and sellers alike are able to spend the time they need to develop real relationships and receive the answers they need to make informed choices for their future MICE needs.

This is definitely something we are looking into. We do have a large group of interstate buyers who are coming from all over Australia, so opening up Get Global in another state will help more buyers interact with our exhibitors.

Did you anticipate Get Global winning the NSW Exhibition of the Year at the MEA Awards? Definitely not. But our team worked so hard to deliver the first event and put together an amazing second year, that it was great for them to be recognised. We are a very passionate group and winning the NSW Exhibition of the Year was a wonderful surprise. We have our fingers crossed we are recognised again at the national MEA awards in May. Get Global â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Where the World Meets will be held at the International Convention Centre, Sydney on Friday 20th July. n

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The Government has launched a multi-million dollar fund to attract more business events to Australia. Jack Carter and James Wells interviewed our industry leaders to uncover the full impact of this groundbreaking initiative.

Bid Fund 101

he Turnbull Coalition Government has unveiled plans to launch Australia’s first ever federal government-funded business events bid fund in an attempt to attract more conferences, exhibitions and meetings to the country. Announced by Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Steven Ciobo MP at the Destination Australia Conference in Melbourne, the Bid Fund Program will see $12 million made available over three years to help increase the conversion of new business events for Australia. The program will offer financial support at the bidding stage for international corporate incentive trips, exhibitions, association conferences, and congresses, as well as being used to cover costs associated with the delivery of an event within Australia. Minister Ciobo said: “To help create new Australian jobs, we want visitors who are going to spend more, get out into the regions and importantly come back for another trip. This is the type of traveller attracted by business events. “We will help provide Australia with a competitive advantage when bidding to secure new high-value international business events through the establishment of Australia’s first ever federal governmentfunded business events bid fund.'

How can you access the funds? Managed by Tourism Australia’s dedicated business events unit Business Events 22 Spice May 2018

Australia, applications for the fund opened 1 May 2018, with access to funds for successful applicants available from 1 July 2018. Speaking exclusively to Spice Magazine, John O’Sullivan, Managing Director, Tourism Australia said that being able to offer financial incentives to help convert bids of national significance into confirmed business would allow Australia to compete more aggressively with the many destinations that already operated national bid funds.

“This is about new international business, with significant economic impact and this is something that the country hasn’t seen before” O’Sullivan said: “Business events are very important in the segment for us. We believe there is a great opportunity to increase yield and increase dispersal and promote Australia’s strengths as a country – and not just on the nature of food and wine and natural beauty, but also some of the more innovative sub-sectors that we have. “This is about new international business, with significant economic impact and this is something that the country hasn’t seen before. We see some of these events are generating $30 million or $50 million and that is based on the visitation

that is linked to these business events. “We know there is big demand out of China, for example, and we know there is big demand out of the US, and Europe has traditionally been very strong on the Association business side. We also think New Zealand is a market that we can tap more and more. “Since I took the role, the business events community has been very upfront with Tourism Australia and various ministers about the opportunity, and full credit to them.”

The industry responds The launch of a first ever multi-million dollar fund to attract business events to Australia is the Government’s biggest commitment to the industry to date, says Arinex CEO, Tamara Kavalec. Kavalec said: “Australia has the challenge of being a far-flung destination when it comes to winning business events and competition is fierce among other global destinations. “Tourism Australia has been ramping up its business events marketing in recognition of the importance of business events to the Australian economy and this fund is the biggest commitment to date. As well as the financial support, the business events industry also needs continued ministerial and departmental endorsements to thrive.” Kavalec added that the Government’s significant financial backing will have a significant impact in persuading

Industry News

international clients to bring their events all the way to Australia. “Arinex has a long history of advocating for a federal bid fund and we’re really excited to see it finally come to fruition. This $12 million fund shows the Government recognises the value of business events and is serious about wanting the industry to grow. It will directly help market our destination to the world and it could be what gets us over the line in attracting more major, international events to Australia.”

Reversing the losing streak Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) CEO Andrew Hiebl believes the Federal Government’s $12m Bid Fund Program for the business events industry will help reverse Australia’s recent decline in global ranking and market share, having dropped out of the top ten in the International Congress and Convention Association’s (ICCA) annual country rankings. Hiebl said:“In 2016, Australia fell to 16th place in the (ICCA) country rankings, with global market share falling to 1.73%. A decade ago, Australia was consistently among the top 10 most popular countries to host major international association conventions. “Our market intelligence shows a 14% decline in the number international bids won in 2017, while economic benefit is predicted to hold steady against 2016 due to increased delegate numbers and longer event durations overall. 39% of international business lost by Australia in 2017 was due to travel distance, followed by 22% due to total event costs and financial incentives offered by competing countries. “The strength of our bid delivery is already recognised worldwide. We are confident that this policy initiative will only increase our international competitiveness and attract more business events to Australia.”

A Game Changer Executive General Manager – Events at Tourism Australia Penny Lion has told Spice News that the Government’s newly announced $12m business

events fund will be a game changer and could help secure international events right up until 2030. “It’s a game-changer because it is going to help drive conversion and visitation,” Lion said. “In the world of business events it is very competitive, so the bid fund will help influence decision makers and also make it easier for them to choose Australia.” Lion stated that the fund will be vital for attracting long-term business out of the US, UK and the rest of Europe, particularly in the association space. “We need the bid fund when the application is in train and then, once a piece of business is confirmed, that’s when we talk about the allocation of money,” Lion continued. Some of those events might not happen until 2030, so there are all sorts of opportunities across all sectors.” When asked for an example of how the fund will help secure business events for Australia, Lion explained that the money can be used to contribute towards expenditures, like booking convention centres and hotels, lowering the cost base of such events and freeing up international clients and delegates to invest in travel, which has commonly been a deterrent for prospective business, due to Australia’s distance from key markets. “Australia has always played well in the value for money space and, because we deliver excellent business events, [the fund] is going to make it easier for clients to choose Australia due to the fact that there is economic support for them.” To qualify for the fund, events must have a minimum of 500 delegates and a $3 million spend, which Lion said is the area where Australia starts to see a return on investment.“We have done a lot of homework on this and we think this is a reasonable ask. Some people might ask for $100,000 and the value of that event might be really high and then others might ask for $1 million and their event might not be worth as much in terms of delegate numbers. “The industry is so excited about this announcement, as they work so hard in this space. For me, it is all about the industry being able to convert more business for Australia.” n

FAR LEFT TO RIGHT: Joyce diMascio, EEAA; Steven Ciobo, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment; Penny Lion, Tourism Australia; Andrew Hiebl, AACB; Tamara Kavalec, Arinex

www.spicenews.com.au 23

Sofitel Darling Harbour

HOT 100 HOTELS • RESORTS • VENUES You voted in record numbers and we listened. Say hello to this year’s top hotels, resorts and venues

1 – Best serviced apartment hotel FRASER SUITES PERTH East Perth, WA | @frasersuitesperth ADINA APARTMENT SYDNEY TOWN HALL Sydney CBD, NSW | @adinahotels ASTRAL TOWERS & RESIDENCES Sydney CBD, NSW | @thestarsydney QUEST EAST MELBOURNE East Melbourne, VIC | @questapartmenthotels

The Calyx

MERITON HERSCHEL STREET BRISBANE Brisbane, Qld | @meritonSuites

ZINC

3 – Best business hotel GRAND HYATT MELBOURNE Melbourne, VIC | @grandhyattmelbourne STAMFORD PLAZA ADELAIDE Adelaide, SA | @stamfordplazaadelaide THE BLACKMAN Melbourne, VIC | @artserieshotels SOFITEL SYDNEY DARLING HARBOUR Sydney, NSW | @sofiteldarlingharbour OVOLO INCHOLM BRISBANE Brisbane, QLD | @ovolohotels

Ovolo Incholm Brisbane

4 – Hotel with the best spa BANNISTERS BY THE SEA Mollymook Beach, NSW | @bannistershotels RACV TORQUAY ONE SPA Torquay, VIC | @racvtorquayresort ELEMENTS OF BYRON OSPREY SPA Byron Bay, NSW | @elementsofbyron THE WILLIAM INGLIS HOTEL SPA AND WELLNESS CENTRE Sydney, NSW | @thewilliaminglis EMIRATES ONE&ONLY WOLGAN VALLEY SPA Lithgow, NSW | @wolganv

RACV Torquay

www.spicenews.com.au 25

hot 100

Sofitel Queenstown

Stamford Plaza Auckland

Lakehouse Daylesford

5 – Best boutique hotel

6 – Best MICE hotel in New Zealand

HOTEL LINDRUM Melbourne, VIC | @Hotel_Lindrum

STAMFORD PLAZA AUCKLAND Auckland, New Zealand | @stamfordplazaauckland

OVOLO WOOLLOOMOOLOO Sydney, NSW | @ovolowoolloomooloo

HILTON AUCKLAND Auckland, New Zealand | @HiltonAuckland

QUEST SCHALLER HOTEL BENDIGO Bendigo, VIC | @questschallerhotel

SOFITEL QUEENSTOWN AND SPA Queenstown, New Zealand | @sofitelqueenstown

BELLS AT KILLCARE Killcare Heights, NSW | @bells_at_killcare

HERITAGE QUEENSTOWN Queenstown, New Zealand | @heritage_queenstown

LAKEHOUSE DAYLESFORD Daylesford, VIC | @lakehousedaylesford

THE GEORGE CHRISTCHURCH Christchurch, New Zealand | @thegeorgechch

7 – Best MICE hotel in the Asia Pacific region BANGKOK MARRIOTT MARQUIS QUEEN’S PARK Bangkok, Thailand | @marriottmarquisbkk RENAISSANCE HONG KONG HARBOUR VIEW Wan Chai, Hong Kong | @renhongkong

Outside of Australia and NZ

Bells at Killcare

8 – Best convention centre hotel STAMFORD PLAZA ADELAIDE Adelaide, SA | @stamfordplazaadelaide SOFITEL SYDNEY DARLING HARBOUR Sydney, NSW | @sofiteldarlingharbour

HILTON GARDEN INN HONG KONG Kowloon, Hong Kong | @hiltongardeninn

CROWNE PLAZA ALICE SPRINGS LASSETERS Alice Springs, NT | @lassetersau

THE VENETIAN MACAO Cotai Strip, Macau | @thevenetianmacao

CROWN MELBOURNE METROPOL Melbourne, VIC | @crownhotels

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL MACAO Cotai Strip, Macau | @fsmacau

26 Spice May 2018

RYDGES SOUTH BANK Brisbane, QLD | @rydgessouthbank

9 – Convention centre with the best catering INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE SYDNEY Sydney, NSW | @iccsydfood BRISBANE CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE Brisbane, QLD | bcec_brisbane MELBOURNE CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE Melbourne, VIC | @mcec GOLD COAST CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE Gold Coast, QLD | @gccec ADELAIDE CONVENTION CENTRE Adelaide, SA | @adelaidecc

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

10 – Best regional hotel RACV TORQUAY RESORT Torquay, VIC | @racvtorquayresort CROWNE PLAZA TERRIGAL PACIFIC Terrigal, NSW | @crowneplazaterrigalpacific QUEST SCHALLER HOTEL BENDIGO Bendigo, VIC | @questschallerhotel HALCYON HOUSE Cabarita Beach, NSW | @_halcyonhouse PULLMAN MAGENTA SHORES Magenta, NSW | @pullmanmagentashoresresort

RACV Torquay Resort

11 – Hotel with the best bar RU-CO, GRAND HYATT MELBOURNE Melbourne, VIC | @grandhyattmelbourne THE BAR, SIR STAMFORD CIRCULAR QUAY Sydney, NSW | @sirstamfordatcircularquay HACIENDA, PULLMAN QUAY GRAND SYDNEY HARBOUR Sydney, NSW | @haciendasydney GRAIN BAR, FOUR SEASONS HOTEL SYDNEY Sydney, NSW | @grainbarSydney ZEPHYR, HYATT REGENCY SYDNEY Sydney, NSW | @zephyrbarsyd

Sir Stamford Circular Quay

12 – Hotel with the best restaurant PEPPERS NOOSA RESORT AND VILLAS, VIEW RESTAURANT BY MATT GOLINSKI Noosa, QLD | @viewrestaurantnoosa NOVOTEL SYDNEY ON DARLING HARBOUR, THE TERNARY Sydney, NSW | @theternary QT SYDNEY, GOWINGS BAR AND GRILL Sydney, NSW | @qtsydneypics THE DARLING, SOKYO Sydney, NSW | @sokyosyd THE OLSEN, SPOONBILL RESTAURANT AND BAR Melbourne, VIC | @spoonbillrestaurant

Peppers Noosa Resort and Villas

www.spicenews.com.au 27

Hot 100

Pullman Bunker Bay Resort

Freycinet Lodge

Melbourne Town Hall

13 – Best resort in Australia PEPPERS NOOSA RESORT AND VILLAS Noosa, QLD | @peppershotels THE BYRON AT BYRON Byron Bay, NSW | @thebyronatbyron EMIRATES ONE&ONLY WOLGAN VALLEY Wolgan Valley, NSW | @wolganv PULLMAN BUNKER BAY Margaret River Region, WA | @pullmanbunkerbay INTERCONTINENTAL SANCTUARY COVE Hope Island, QLD | @interconsanc

15 – Best venue for gala dinners MELBOURNE TOWN HALL Melbourne, VIC | @theepicurefoodies

14 – Best lodge in Australia FREYCINET LODGE Coles Bay, TAS | @freycinetlodge SAFFIRE FREYCINET Coles Bay, TAS | @saffirefreycinet PEPPERS CRADLE MOUNTAIN LODGE Cradle Mountain, TAS | @pepperscradlemountainlodge BERKELEY RIVER LODGE Berkeley River, WA | @berkeleyriverlodge SPICERS PEAK LODGE Maryvale, QLD | @spicerspeaklodge

16 – Best golf hotel OAKS CYPRESS LAKES RESORT Pokolbin, NSW | @oaks_hotels

PLAZA BALLROOM Melbourne, VIC | @plazaballroom

PULLMAN MAGENTA SHORES Magenta, NSW | @pullmanmagentashoresresort

DUNBAR HOUSE WATSONS BAY Sydney, NSW | @dunbarhousewatsonsbay

RACV TORQUAY RESORT Torquay, VIC | @racvtorquayresort

DOLTONE HOUSE HYDE PARK Sydney, NSW | @doltonehouse

CROWNE PLAZA HUNTER VALLEY Lovedale, NSW | @crowneplaza_huntervalley

NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA Melbourne, VIC | @ngvmelbourne

BONVILLE GOLF RESORT Bonville, NSW | @bonvillegolfresort

28 Spice May 2018

17 – Best small venue in Australia PERTH ZOO Perth, WA | @perthzoo RUTH CRACKNELL ROOM, ROSLYN PACKER THEATRE Sydney, NSW | @RoslynPackerTheatre PEPPERS BEACH CLUB PORT DOUGLAS Port Douglas, QLD | @peppershotels HOTEL PALISADE Sydney, NSW | @hotelpalisade JACK RABBIT RESTAURANT Geelong, VIC | @jackrabbitvineyard

Doltone House Hyde Park

18 – Best mid-sized venue STUDIO SYDNEY TOWER Sydney, NSW | @studiosydneytower MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART AUSTRALIA (MCA) Sydney, NSW | @mca_australia HAWTHORN ARTS CENTRE Melbourne, VIC | @hawthornartscentre DOLTONE HOUSE HYDE PARK Sydney, NSW | @doltonehouse HOSTCO SYDNEY, REFECTORY Sydney, NSW | @hostcosydney

Studio Sydney Tower

19 – Best large venue WATT BRISBANE Brisbane, QLD | @wattbrisbane MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND East Melbourne, VIC | @mcg THE VENUE ALEXANDRIA Sydney, NSW | @thevenuealexandria AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM Sydney, NSW | @anmmuseum CRYSTAL BALLROOM, LUNA PARK SYDNEY Sydney, NSW | @lunaparksydney

Melbourne Cricket Ground

20 – Best mega-venue INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE SYDNEY Sydney, NSW | @iccsydney ROYAL RANDWICK, EVENTS BY AUSTRALIAN TURF CLUB Sydney, NSW | @atc_races THE STAR EVENT CENTRE Sydney, NSW | @thestarsydney OPTUS STADIUM PERTH Perth, WA | @optusstadium MELBOURNE CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE Melbourne, NSW | @mcec

International Convention Centre Sydney

www.spicenews.com.au 29

Hotspot

Best of Adelaide Jack Carter heads to South Australia to uncover some of the very best spots to eat, meet and drink.

Stay

Dine

Stay

Pullman Adelaide

State Library of South Australia

Mayfair Hotel

Centrally located, Pullman Adelaide is a

The Mortlock Chamber at the State Library

Boasting its own rooftop bar with views

luxury hotel situated in the middle of the

of South Australia offers an historical gala

stretching all the way across to the Adelaide

central business district. There are 308

dinner setting for groups of up to 200.

hills, Mayfair Hotel offers 170-rooms for groups

well-appointed rooms, meeting spaces,

Steeped in late-Victorian design, the main

looking for a luxury stay in the heart of the

a ballroom, pool, fitness centre and

floor is bordered by a series of alcoves that

city. The glass-topped terrace and balcony

complimentary wi-fi available for guests. The

can host a variety of activations, such as

can be taken over by corporate groups for

rooms are spacious and the beds, comfy.

wine and whisky tastings, while a first floor

intimate gatherings and large receptions, or

The hotel is perfect for both business and

gallery can take up to 75 for pre-dinner

delegates can even book in for High Tea at

leisure travellers.

standing receptions.

its signature Mayflower Restaurant and Bar.

Meet

Activities

Stay

The Hindley

Seppeltsfield Barossa

Novotel Barossa

New on the scene in the heart of the CBD

The Seppeltsfield story dates all the way

While the transfer between Adelaide and

is The Hindley, a modern, multi-function

back to the 1800s, where a tradition that

Barossa Valley is only an hour, the Novotel

venue by day, a vibrant drinking and dining

was started by owner Oscar Benno Pedro

Barossa Valley Resort offers a comfortable

destination by night. The venue is separated

Seppelt is still carrying on today, breaking

stay in the heart of one of Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best

into five bespoke areas, including the Main

records. Underneath the oak beams of the

wine regions. The 140-key property offers

Room, which can accommodate 350 for

Centennial Cellar, groups can sample a

studio and superior rooms, as well as

seated dinners and conferences to 1,600

vintage Tawny port from a lineage that goes

one- and two-bed apartments. The Cellar

for standing receptions, as well as an upper

as far back as 1878. The rare opportunity for

Kitchen opened in 2016 and offers sweeping

mezzanine level for an additional 100

delegates to enjoy a glass from their birth

views across the vineyards, as does its

guests. More casual gatherings of up to 400

year has become one of the top Adelaide

18-hole golf course and outdoor heated

can take place in the Bar.

experiences for incentive groups.

swimming pool.

30 Spice May 2018

Dine

Royal Botanic Gardens Restaurant

Holiday Inn Express Adelaide

Located in Adelaide’s 51-hectare inner-

in close proximity to the Adelaide Oval,

city sanctuary, the venue is a much-loved

Convention Centre and the casino is the

spot for al fresco dining among groups.

Holiday Inn Express - the city's newest hotel.

The main restaurant can seat 90 for formal

The 245-key property is fully equipped with

dinners or 140 for standing receptions,

everything you need to make your stay

with an outdoor terrace overlooking the

a pleasant one such as quality bedding,

garden’s lake, a perfect spot for cocktails

complimentary wi-fi, a fitness centre and

and canapes.

free breakfast.

Meet

Stay

Ideally located in Adelaide's bustling cbd

Glen Ewin Estate

The Playford, Mgallery By Sofitel

‘Challenge the ordinary’ is the mantra of

The Playford Adelaide hotel offers a

the Glen Ewin Estate events team, which

sophisticated boutique stay on the CBD’s

is why the venue has seen everything from

North Terrace. The 182-room hotel includes

slip n’ slides to live opera organised for its

40 suites in Art Nouveau style, an award-

corporate event clientele. Located on

winning restaurant with one of the longest

the Adelaide Hills, the Estate has hosted

wine lists in the city, and a luxury spa, sauna,

everything from automotive product

and swimming pool combo. Gala dinners,

launches and roadshows to lavish gala

cocktail receptions, and meetings can take

dinners, with its two main venues - The

place on their own dedicated floor for up to

Pulpshed and The Gatehouse – offering

500 delegates, while a main ballroom can

versatile spaces for a range of groups.

be partitioned into three smaller spaces.

wineaustralia.com.au

www.spicenews.com.au 31

Good Morning, Vietnam

Australians are heading to Vietnam in droves -- and it’s not hard to see why. Rich in culture, history and natural wonders, the Southeast Asian country is a spot that surprises at every turn. Bonnie van Dorp heads to Hanoi, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh to uncover a few of its secrets. Stay: La Siesta Central, Hanoi Situated in Hanoi’s charming Old Quarter, La Siesta Central is a new colonial style property by Elegance Hospitality Group. The boutique hotel offers 27 well-appointed rooms split over five floors, with some rooms offering sweeping views over Hoan Kiem Lake. By night, the city comes alive with market stalls and blaring scooter horns — and guests are well placed to explore, taste and lose themselves in the vibe. After a full day of exploring, head up to Twilight Sky Bar on the rooftop of La Siesta to kick back with a handcrafted signature cocktail while bopping your head along to mellow DJ beats. The elevated drinking spot is a bit of a hidden gem, and offers unobstructed views over the vibrant city.

Activities: Insiders Hanoi, Vespa Adventures Get an insider’s look at Hanoi on the back of a vintage scooter with Vespa Adventures. Perfect for small groups, the four-hour tour kicks off at St Joseph’s Cathedral, the oldest colonial-style church in Hanoi. Your guide will then take you on a relaxing ride through narrow streets and alleys, where you can take in the ancient quarter from a different point of view. Highlights of the tour include a stop off at railway tracks where you’ll meet locals who live and work just centimetres from the train tracks; an exploration of a 400-year-old temple; and a stop off at an old B52 crash site. What makes this tour special is that it doesn’t

www.hanoilasiestacentralhotel.com

Activities: Exploring the Old Quarter Strolling the ancient streets in Hanoi’s Old Quarter is a must-do when visiting the capital city. Here, you will find ancient shop fronts and street vendors reminiscent of another time. While the Old Quarter is a pedestrian-friendly area, visitors will have to navigate streets lined with scooters and motorbikes, and face the chaotic traffic just as locals do — it’s all part of the experience after all. Take some time to find a good street food vendor and pull up a tiny blue stool next to some locals for a truly authentic Vietnamese experience. 32 Spice May 2018

just take you to the tourist hot spots, but offers you a chance to actually interact and get to know locals. You’ll visit a Kumquat Farm, whizz over the Long Bien Bridge and even experience a wet market. There are a variety of different tours to choose from; for those interested in indulging in local cuisine, the Hanoi After Dark Street Food Tour comes highly recommended. http://vespaadventures.com/hanoi-tours

Eat: Cong Ca Phe As the second largest producer of coffee, it’s safe to say Vietnam has a bit of a love affair with caffeine. This is great news for caffeine-addicts as it means that a good cup of coffee is never far away. Cong Ca Phe is a popular coffee chain amongst hip locals and features retro military decor and is kitted out with kitsch wartime memorabilia. The staff, dressed in stylised military garb, are friendly and quick to offer up a quick recommendation or two on what’s good. Make sure you try a coconut iced coffee, Cong Ca Phe’s signature concoction — you won’t be disappointed. http://congcaphe.com

Stay: The Anam, Nha Trang

St Joseph's Cathedral, Hanoi

The Anam is a 117-villa and 96-room colonial-style resort situated on a white sand beach in the burgeoning city of Nha Trang. Situated just 20 minutes from Cam Ranh Airport, This five-star property is a boon for MICE planners and delegates due

Hotspots Activities: Po Nagar Cham Temple

The Anam

Coconut coffees at Cong Cafe

to its extensive conferencing capabilities. The Colonial Room hosts up to 170 people theatre-style or 80 for a banquet and is decked out with the latest sound technology and projection equipment. Situated in the Deluxe Collection building, the ballroom, called the Au Lac Room, caters to up to 250 people theatre-style and 120 for a banquet. Both venues are ideal for gala and wedding dinners and other significant events. Onsite amenities include a spa, three restaurants and two bars, a 3-D movie theatre, water sports centre, yoga room and deck, tennis court, kids club and three swimming pools. Some 3,000 palm trees shade the 12-hectare property that fronts 300 metres of private beach overlooking the East Sea, where sand, surf, and dramatic headlands come together to form one of Vietnamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most scenic seaside enclaves. www.theanam.com

The Po Nagar Cham Towers are a sacred site of worship erected by Cham, Vietnamese and Chinese Buddhists around the 7th century. The magnificent temple honours Po Nagar, a goddess who is thought to be the protector of the Cham people. There were originally eight towers that dotted the site, however only four remain today, with the largest being Thap Chinh, a 28 metre high structure with a massive pyramid roof. Due to its religious significance, make sure modest clothing is worn when visiting, and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to remove your shoes. n

Po Nagar

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Hot Hotel

The rooftop bar offers sprawling views of the city

Hotel des Arts Saigon The first word that comes to mind when describing the Hotel des Arts Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City is ‘grand’. From the massive teak wooden doors that greet you at the entrance, to the Indochine Française interiors that ﬂow through the spaces – every detail of this luxe boutique property lures you in to explore and learn more.

The welcome crew

The Vibe There is a lot of old world charm packed into the 168key property. The Sky Lounge on level 22 is reminiscent of a 1930s-era Gentleman’s Club and offers sprawling views over Saigon, whilst the Social Club Restaurant delivers a similar vibe complete with a fresh seasonal menu inspired by European cuisine.

The Rooms There are five room categories to choose from including Deluxe, Grand Deluxe, Sky Executive, Sky Executive

The grand lobby

Grand and Executive Studio Suite. Those staying in the Executive Studio Suite will enjoy soaking in an elegant clawfoot tub while taking in panoramic views over the Saigon skyline, a plush king size bed to rest your head, and a separate dressing room to get ready in.

Meetings and Events There are three boardrooms and a large ballroom on site to choose from for meetings and events. The selection of function rooms can accommodate anywhere between 10 and 200 delegates and all feature state-of-the-art AV technology. Each function space can be styled for all types of events including product launches and executive meetings.

Must Do’s Pack your swimmers and hit the infinity pool on the The Spa is a peaceful getaway from city living

rooftop for a relaxing dip. Afterwards, lounge around at the Social Club and enjoy a cocktail at sunset.

The Location Hotel Des Arts Saigon is a quick 30 minute cab ride from International Airport and is located within close proximity to a number of top District 1 hot spots such as the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, the Saigon Central Relax and unwind at the spa

34 Spice May 2018

Post Office, the War Remnants Museum, the Jade Emperor Pagoda and many more. n

Hotspots Guests partake in Masterchef competion on board

A trip to Vietnam is not complete without experiencing the towering limestone islands and emerald waters of Halong Bay. Bonnie van Dorp hops aboard Bhaya Cruises’ luxury vessel, Au Co, for an unforgettable overnighter.

All aboard Au Co

ust four hours away by car from the bustling metropolis of Hanoi is an emerald bay comprised of some 2,000 islets formed over 500 million years. Twice listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Halong Bay is the most popular tourist hot spot in the whole of Vietnam, welcoming around five million visitors per year. While gliding along the gentle waters on board a traditional junk boat is one of the most popular ways to experience Halong Bay, the rise in popularity of the destination has seen an increase in luxury liners gracing the hauntingly beautiful waters.

Bhaya Cruises One such luxury operator of luxury expeditions is Bhaya Cruises, offering guests a five star experience on board its twin vessels Au Co and Au Co II. Guests boarding the luxury cruise liner are treated like royalty. A red carpet is rolled out and Viet drummers clad in traditional garb waving large flags welcome guests on board.

Activities on Board There are a range of fun activities available on board for guests to enjoy including a Masterchef competition judged by the ships’ executive chef; fruit carving lessons, and squid fishing by night. We joined in on the Masterchef competition and learned how to roll our own Vietnamese spring rolls the proper way.

The Suite The cabins on board Au Co are spacious and offer a range of amenities to make your stay a comfortable one. We were lucky enough to be upgraded to the Long Quan Suite, the ship’s most luxurious offering, which featured a claw foot tub, complimentary wi-fi, queen sized bed and an enviable private deck.

ABOVE: Cabins on board the Au Co are spacious and comfortable BOTTOM LEFT: Bhaya guests explore Halong on a Kayak

Shore Excursions On the two day, overnighter itinerary, guests can choose to partake in a number of shore excursions including an exploration of the Tian Ong Caves, an archaeological site covering an area of 1,000 sqm, or the chance to meet locals living in Cua Van, an ancient floating village. Pro tip - bring some Vietnamese Dong to tip your local guides at the floating village.

MICE at Sea The Bhaya Group is the largest cruise operator in Halong Bay, with 10 vessels, 161 cabins and 350 staff. Planners can choose between a diverse range of modern steel ships and traditional wooden boats across three of Bhaya’s brands: Bhaya Classic, Au Co and Legend Halong. A number of function spaces are available on board, and the dedicated MICE team can also arrange an array of offsite venues for your event. n www.spicenews.com.au 35

NZ Update

What’s up Neighbour? From new hotels to massive bid wins, New Zealand is gearing up for a massive 2018. Read on to uncover more news from the land of the long white cloud...

China officially overtakes New Zealand as Australia’s largest inbound visitor market China has bypassed New Zealand as Australia’s largest inbound visitor market for the first time. According to recent data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1.39 million Chinese travellers visited Australia in the year ending February 2018, amounting to an increase of 13.2 per cent. In comparison, only 1.36 million New Zealand visitors made it over to Australia during the same period.

Federal Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Ciobo said in a statement that China has been Australia’s most valuable inbound tourism market since 2011, with visitors spending a record $10.4 billion in the year ending December 2017. “This growth is set to continue with China’s increased prosperity forecast to fuel another trebling of numbers over the next decade to 3.9m by 2026-2027.”

Auckland wins bid to host top International Artificial Intelligent Conference Auckland has secured the International Conference on Autonomous and Multiagent Systems (AAMAS) when it comes to New Zealand in 2020. More than 500 delegates from all around the world are expected to attend the five-day conference, which will deliver more than 2,400 visitor nights and nearly $900,000 in economic value to the region. The conference will bring together researchers and practitioners in all areas of agent technology and provide a single, highprofile forum for research in theory and practice. The NZ bid team was led by Dr Quan Bai at Auckland University of Technology and Professor Michael Winikoff from the University of Otago with support from Auckland Tourism, Auckland Convention Bureau and Tourism New Zealand’s Conference Assistance programme.

36 Spice May 2018

Wyndham Garden Queenstown welcomes first guests The 75-key Wyndham Garden Queenstown has officially opened its doors. Positioned in the popular Remarkables Park precinct, guests will be within walking distance of both

Queenstown Airport and the shuttle bus to The Remarkables ski slopes. Onsite amenities include complimentary wi-fi, a gym, meeting spaces, and a range of rooms and suites complete with kitchen facilities.

New Ramada Hotel slated for Newmarket, Auckland Wyndham is adding to its New Zealand stable, with Ramada Hotel and Suites Newmarket slated to open in Auckland in 2020. The NZ$22m new build property - which features an 81 sqm purpose-built meeting space - will join eight Ramada hotels already open and operating throughout New Zealand. Slated to open in 2020, the 63-key Ramada Newmarket will be an eight minute drive from the city CBD and conveniently located bear the Auckland War Memorial, the Southern Motorway and Westfield Newmarket.

International convention visitors show growth for New Zealand Business events are generating high value for New Zealand’s visitor industry, and it can only get better, says Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ). International convention delegates heading to New Zealand last year spent 17 per cent more compared to 2016 according to the Convention Delegate Survey released by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment. CINZ Chief Executive Sue Sullivan says business events are a major growth sector for New Zealand with nightly spend for international convention delegates over 50 per cent higher than the average nightly spend of all international visitors. “This can only grow as our value proposition strengthens, and we gear up for major new convention centre and hotel infrastructure which will give us the ability to cater for much

larger multi-day conventions,” Sue Sullivan says. Multi-day convention delegates stayed an estimated 1,080,000 visitor nights in New Zealand and they spent an estimated $506 million in 2017. The average per-person pernight spend for all delegates who spent time away from home to attend conferences was $385. “The total spend was down on last year’s $588m which was driven by high domestic growth in 2016, but still a good step up from $472 million in 2015,” Sue Sullivan says. The Convention Delegate Survey shows strong growth in international convention delegate spend was driven by an increase in delegates (up 9 per cent), and length of stay (up 20% to 7.2 nights), but offset by a fall in nightly spend (down 10 per cent from 2016 to $299).

• • • •

www.spicenews.com.au 37

Hotspots

Hit play on WA

Spice takes a trip to Western Australia to uncover the most vibrant spots to stay and play. 38 Spice May 2018

Meet

Eat

Activities

Hyatt Regency Perth

State Buildings

Situated just 1km from the city centre, the

Situated in the historic heart of Perth,

Trees Adventures, Lane Poole Park

367-key Hyatt Regency Perth makes for a

the State Buildings are a collection of

Engage with the great outdoors on an

great spot to meet and rest your head. Onsite

iconic heritage buildings that have been

obstacle course set high above the

amenities include five dining establishments

reimagined and revamped as a vibrant hub

treetops. Perfect for corporate groups,

and bars, a 24/7 fitness centre, a heated

of dining, retail and hotel offerings. This is also

the two hour session includes a series of

swimming pool and more. There is over

great news for planners as there are now

aerial challenges and flying foxes which

3,000 sqm of event space available onsite

an array of unique spaces throughout the

are scaled for beginners through to those

including 16 meeting rooms, three ballrooms

buildings and restaurants available for events.

wanting something a little more challenging.

plus exclusive access to the event facilities at

Dining options include Wildflower restaurant,

Trees Adventure is located just 45 minutes

the Royal Perth Yacht Club.

Osteria Post, Petition and Long Chim.

from Mandurah, inside Lane Poole Reserve.

Activities

Stay

Meet

Wild Seafood Experience, Mandurah Cruises

Novotel Perth Langley

Optus Perth Stadium

Relax and unwind while taking in the

Optus Perth Stadiumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s function rooms

Combining the city's picturesque waterways

views over the Swan River at Novotel Perth

offer a range of settings suitable for

and premium seafood dining, the Wild

Langley. The 256-key hotel offers 24-hour

conferences, exhibitions, launches, cocktail

Seafood Experience by Mandurah Cruises

room service, a sauna and spa plus a

functions, gala balls, Christmas parties and

lets passengers pull rock lobster pots from the

range of meeting facilities. The dedicated

other celebrations. The events destination

ocean before the delicacy is prepared on

conference floor features five function

can accommodate numbers from six to

board by a chef. Throughout the three hour

rooms ranging from the pillarless ballroom

2,000 guests. The mega venue is the third

tour, guests will be surrounded by wildlife

for up to 600 people, to the Langley Room

largest of its kind in Australia.

such as dolphins and abundant bird life.

which is perfect for smaller groups.

www.spicenews.com.auâ&#x20AC;&#x192; 39

Spice Social

Out About 3 1/ The World Corporate Travel team wins big at the NSW MEA Awards

2/ Destination SA delegates get in close for a group photo 3/ Ultimate Ears hosted a product activation at The Commune in Waterloo 4/ VIP guests at the official Veriu Central opening in Sydney

2 40 Spice May 2018

Events Calendar

Save the Date Pencil these important industry events into your calendar.

May CINZ MEETINGS

July Events Uncovered

Follow This @mandalao_elephants MandaLao Elephant Conservation and Tours is an intimate non-riding, cruelty-

3 JULY, 2018, SYDNEY

30-31 MAY, 2018, AUCKLAND

Events Uncovered is a one day trade show

MEETINGS is New Zealand's only national

unlike you’ve ever seen. This free-to-attend

business tourism event for the conference,

event takes you behind the scenes of

meetings, events, exhibition and travel

events so that you can discover the hottest

incentive industry. Held over two days,

trends in theming, venues, catering, AV,

the exhibition is your chance to meet with

photography and much more. For those

over 190 exhibitors from over 19 regions to

keen to really get into the nitty gritty, the

discuss your next event.

Spice Temple of Knowledge program is

www.meetings.co.nz

jam-packed with interesting speakers ready

free elephant experience in Laos.

@eventsceneblogger Cathy Hammond is a Melbournebased events executive at Exhibitions and Trade Fairs. Her insta-account is an intimate look at the day-to-day life of a busy events professional.

@arinexevents

to educate and inspire. www.eventsuncovered.com.au

Arinex brings to life some pretty serious insta-worthy events. Get a sneak peek of what they do here.

@alistguide Follow this account to keep up to date with the latest event trends, suppliers and team building activities available in Australia.

@botanical.lane

June Event Summit

July

14 JUNE, 2018

Get Global

A one day events industry ‘super’

20 JULY, 2018

conference has been announced for

Get Global is a meeting and events

June 14 in Sydney. The conference will

exhibition focused solely on Australia’s

feature 22 speakers across 22 sessions,

outbound MICE market. Held at the

including the people behind the recent

International Convention Centre Sydney,

Super Bowl, Australian Open of Tennis and

the one-day tradeshow brings the business

Commonwealth Games events. The Event

events industry together on an international

Summit, presented by SafetyCulture, is part

scale to give buyers and exhibitors the

of the Vivid Ideas Exchange 2018 and will be

opportunity to meet with the right contacts

held at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

and build their networks globally.

www.eventsummit.com.au

www.getglobal.com.au

42 Spice May 2018

Triste Knoche is a Kiwi florist who is not afraid of experimenting with vivid hues and wild flowers.

@the_indigo_project This Sydney-based psychology practice tells it like it is. Follow the account for a healthy dose of motivation and #inspiration.

@tcmevents Theming director Jill Covitz takes you behind the scenes of some of her most memorable events.

3 JULY 2018 | THE ARGYLE, SYDNEY

ONEILL PHOTOGRAPHICS

DISCOVER

GET INSPIRED

NETWORK

Join us on a discovery of the best new ideas, innovative products and the coolest spaces for your next event.

Insider

A Chef’s

Approach Chef James Metcalfe has had an illustrious career spanning 25 years working in both double hatted and Michelin star restaurants across London and Sydney. Today he heads JRM, a multi-faceted hospitality consultancy firm that is working with some of the biggest names in the industry. Tell us a little bit about JRM Hospitality We supply temporary event and promotional staff for agencies, corporate and private clients. We only employ the top three per cent of candidates, so clients are provided with the best chefs, bartenders, wait and promo staff in the business. We look after permanent recruitment for the hospitality industry. Ninety per cent of our candidates are successful in securing long-term employment, which sets us apart from our competitors. The hospitality consultancy division provides front and back of house management, as well as support for venues. We've successfully improved efficiency, decreased costs and increased profits for a number of businesses and even been awarded a Chef’s Hat. Finally, we are growing our own portfolio of JRM Venues from coffee shops to cocktail bars.

When did it start? JRM officially began trading in 2009 with the Temporary Event and Promotional Staff division. My wife Lisa joined in 2013 and ran the business until 2016 when I gave up full time employment to focus on taking the business to the next level - this was when JRM really started to grow.

What services do you offer and to whom? We are a multi-faceted consultancy, so we wear a lot of different hats and offer a variety of services to a variety of clients. We work with some of the biggest names in the industry as well as some of Australia’s most boutique, high end brands. 44 Spice May 2018

Our core business is providing staff to corporate businesses to manage their boardroom and event catering. Our biggest client is one of the top four banks and we have successfully supplied both back of house and front of house staff for their cafes, boardrooms and events for almost 10 years now. This year has also been about cementing long-term relationships with some progressive Australian companies including Veriu Hotels and WOTSO Workspace. This has led to the birth of our own JRM venues. This month we launched ‘The Drawing Room’ a chic lobby bar at Veriu Central. Next month we look forward to launching ‘W & Co’ a coffee shop and catering outlet located in the WOTSO Pyrmont building. We have more venue launches taking place later in the year, so watch this space for more details.

What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in the business? How did you resolve them? In recent years Sydney has seen a real shortage of quality back and front of house staff, which has meant we’ve had to think outside of the box to overcome this issue. Throughout this time we never compromised on quality to fill a gap and we’ve found that this approach has helped us attract quality staff. We’ve resolved this issue by employing highly connected individuals with large networks that span both interstate and internationally so we have a variety of talent pools to pick and choose from.

What has been the biggest event you’ve worked on? Throughout my time as a chef I’ve had the pleasure of working for some incredible celebrities from British royalty to the world’s most famous girl band. One of the largest events I worked on however was for Australia’s most famous media mogul. It was a personal event for him and his friends held on his luxury yacht. We also regularly staff large-scale operations for the SCG and SFS catering for thousands of guests across a number of events, simultaneously.

What are the big trends in your industry? Corporate social responsibility is a huge focus, not just in our industry, but across all industries. We wholeheartedly embrace CSR in every aspect of our business. One rising trend is the recognition and empowerment of women in hospitality. We are avid supporters of WoHo, an organisation focused on supporting and fostering women in the industry. All employees receive complimentary membership upon commencing with JRM and we will be working with WoHO on a number of events this year. There are some incredibly talented women in this industry, so it is great that they are being recognised for their excellence. We also support other very worthwhile organisations including the Sydney Children’s Hospital and OzHarvest through our social series initiative which is a series of dinners connecting small producers with potential clients while raising funds for charity.

“We’re on the verge of launching in Melbourne and Brisbane and we’re working toward an international presence within the next five years.”

What are clients asking for? Our clients come to us because they want consistency and quality. We provide them with well informed, educated and exceptionally well trained staff. Our innovative procedures allow us to deliver old school service consistently. We have an intensive four step onboarding and training program that only three per cent of applicants are successful in completing ensuring we deliver the best every time.

What do you love about the industry? What’s not to love? I admire the creativity, the people, the talent, and most of all, the fast paced environment we operate in! I’ve been living and breathing the industry for 25 years now and been lucky enough to be a chef at the highest level.

Where do you see the business going in the next five years? We’re on the verge of launching in Melbourne and Brisbane and we’re working toward an international presence within the next five years. We will also be growing our portfolio of venues, so watch this space!

Where are the big opportunities for growth and innovation? With service levels in Sydney being at an all-time low, there is enormous opportunity for JRM to continue to grow the casual staff division – and this will be done by focusing on our innovative onboarding process, providing regular training updates to staff and never compromising on excellence.

If you could tell clients one thing, what would it be? The key ingredient to success is having the right people in the right places, so plan ahead and engage JRM to assist with supplying quality hospitality professionals to ensure that your event is in the best hands.

What’s your life motto? Gamble until you lose! n www.spicenews.com.au 45

Last Word Leading Men belt out show-stopping numbers

“We produce shows that have universal appeal.”

Sultan of

SWING

Darryl Lovegrove

Darryl Lovegrove’s contribution to the Australian events industry cannot be underestimated. Beyond his exceptional talents as a singer, he has also been a mentor, advocate and innovator who has driven the industry forward in countless ways.

he founder of Lovegrove Entertainment and co-creator of the ‘The Three Waiters’ says that the secret to his success - even through the tough times - has been keeping event planners’ desired outcomes front of mind and surrounding himself with the cream of Australian musical theatre, opera and dance. Lovegrove’s simpatico with the ‘talent’ was forged on stage in the early days of his performance career. He says,“I was an original Australian cast member of ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘Chess’. In the mid 90s I played Jesus alongside Jon Stevens and Deni Hines in the Australasian tour of Jesus Christ Superstar and toured with Sarah Brightman and Anthony Warlow in the Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. I was able to build up a huge list of friends, colleagues and choreographers who are simply some

46 Spice May 2018

of the most talented performers in the country. The opera stable comes from working with many young opera singers during my years with ‘The Three Waiters’. When asked how he got into emceeing events, Lovegrove says it was a happy accident. “A few years ago one of the major entertainment agencies rang me up asking me if I could emcee a fundraising event. I’d had such tunnel vision as a producer and a performer that I’d never even thought about hosting an event. I was apprehensive but decided to help out, only to find that I was born to emcee. It’s the perfect way for me to combine my talents and experience in events. I’ve now emceed about 80 events where my ability to host as well as entertain is a huge point of difference,” he said. While the market’s tastes can be fickle, Lovegrove has managed to hit

on a winning formula of delivering showstoppers with finesse. He says,“‘The Three Waiters’ was directly a result of the ‘Three Tenors’ phenomenon. One of my more popular shows ‘Jersey to Motown’ was put together as a result of the success of the ‘Jersey Boys’ musical. “We produce shows that hopefully have universal appeal. A good example is ‘The Leading Men’ which sees the stars of Australian Music Theatre coming to an event performing the big show stoppers. The longevity of that show can be put down to an ageless medium [musical theatre] being performed superbly by actual musical theatre stars. That’s always going to work well,” he said. And the best part of it all? “The post-show hugs! I’ve been hugged by many hundreds of relieved and grateful event planners and it’s something I never get tired of,” he said. n

Elements of Byron - unrelenting pursuit of excellence in business events. Winner - ‘Best Large-Scale Corporate Retreat’. Hosting Australia’s blue chip companies and SMEs to create outstanding signature conferences and business events. Arrive at a stunningly sophisticated world-class conference and events destination. Depart deeply connected by Byron’s natural spirit. World-class facilities located on a 28 ha recreational playground with absolute beachfront in beautiful Byron Bay.

Book now at elementsofbyron.com.au +61 2 6639 1500