cim september 2014 issue

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SEPT 2014

Inspire Ex gets interactive

16-page New Zealand special

Gold Coast Business Events ‘go for gold’

Make an impression

Australian Technology Park

Big Moments are Better when Shared Connect with colleagues at our newly opened Denarau Island Convention Centre at Sheraton Fiji Resort. Plan on success together with special meeting rates that include free breakfast and late checkout. Find out more at sheraton.com/fiji or call +679 675 0777

Set For SuccessIt’s the little things that add up to a great meeting. From stunning views to innovative menus, thoughtful attention to detail. Connect with colleagues at our newly opened Sheraton Resort & Spa Tokoriki Island and enjoy special rates that include free breakfast and late checkout.

Find out more at sheraton.com/tokoriki or call +679 675 0777

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

CONTENTS

On the coverAustralian Technology Park transforms events from ordinary to extraordinary, transporting guests from industrial chic to 19th century French luxury.

Print Post Approved PP231335/00018

SEPT 2014

Inspire Ex gets interactive

16-page New Zealand special

Gold Coast Business Events ‘go for gold’

Make an impression

Australian Technology Park

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Don’t miss

Look out for these topical news-based video stories on our website, www.cimmagazine.com, and in the CIM iPad app, to delve deeper into the issues behind the print stories.

REGULARS04 Publisher’s note

06 News

08 International news

11 Q&A John Daly, John Daly International

42 Venue update

44 Profile Karen Christensen, Silversea Cruises

45 Meeting people

46 PCO Association

FEATURES10 Cover story Australian Technology Park

12 New Zealand News from our trans-Tasman neighbours

28 Convention centres The only way is up

34 Gold Coast Gold Coast counts down to

Commonwealth Games

36 Associations Forum Well connected in Canberra

38 Inspire Ex The personal touch

40 Event report Singapore Tourism Board’s

MasterMICE event38

12

40

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

I have just arrived home from Thailand where I met with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways and Thailand

Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) to get an update on the situation there, following the political unrest earlier in the year.

Speaking during the opening press conference, the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the situation is now peaceful and they are moving forwards. He spoke of the three step roadmap to strengthen democracy and fast track infrastructure projects. President of TCEB, Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, confirmed the government’s commitment to the business events industry.

We see all around the world now how important the business events industry is to the economy, so when a natural disaster, or political or cultural disaster happens it can have a very damaging effect across many sectors linked with business events.

To see the Thai government showing its commitment to the industry and the country’s key industry bodies working together to restore confidence is very encouraging. Thailand already had a strong business events industry. Now, with everybody on board, I am looking forward to seeing the recovery process unfold and the industry bounce back.

On a personal note it always gives me a “warm and fuzzy” feeling to see how resilient our industry is and the sheer strength of will that comes from the stakeholders within the industry to succeed in the face of sometimes very difficult circumstances around the world.

So it still amazes me that I have to explain to people and friends what the business events industry is... I guess we can steal a phrase from the classic BP advertisements – we really are “The Quiet Achiever”.

Convention centres across the nation are recording some of their best figures, and with many actively targeting more international business, it seems increased investment in both venues and infrastructure is paying off. Read more on page 28.

THIS MONTH’S TOP STORY

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Nine years on, still going strongThe Club Melbourne Ambassador Program has marked its ninth anniversary, celebrating the Ambassadors’

achievements over the past year and welcoming five new inductees to the program. In the last year, Melbourne has hosted 13 international conferences secured by Ambassadors.

Social media toolkit for regional eventsA new online social media toolkit released by Tourism Research Australia aims to help event managers understand how to use

social media to promote their regional events. The Get social and improve your event! toolkit came about as the result of a study which found that nearly one-third (30 per cent) of people who attend a regional event used social media to engage with the event.

Mackay to host events conferenceMackay will welcome more than 200 event organisers when it hosts the sixth Tourism and Events Queensland

Regional Events Conference in November. “The TEQ Regional Events Conference will give local operators first-hand access to tourism and events industry experts,” said Mackay Tourism general manager Stephen Schwer.

Concierge campaign recognisedBrisbane’s South Bank precinct has won an Excellence in Marketing Award for its South Bank Concierge campaign at

the Property Council of Australia’s 2014 Queensland Retail Property of the Year Awards. South Bank Concierge provides a point of contact for conference organisers to liaise with South Bank Corporation.

‘Restaurant Australia’ head chefs announcedAward-winning chefs Neil Perry, Peter Gilmore and Ben Shewry will come together to deliver a “best of Australia”

menu for Tourism Australia’s “Invite the World to Dinner” to be held in Tasmania in November. The dinner is part of Tourism Australia’s new global campaign, “Restaurant Australia”.

NEWS BRIEFS

Sydney will welcome a new 5-star hotel as part of the new convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct being constructed at Darling Harbour.

Construction of the new 35 storey Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour hotel, which will be owned by Australia’s largest private hotel investor, Dr Jerry Schwartz, and operated by Accor, is expected to start in late 2014, with it due for completion in the first half of 2017.

Speaking at the announcement of the hotel project Schwartz said he believed that the Darling Harbour precinct is set to be “one of the world’s most exciting urban renaissance projects with the new ICC Sydney and the upgrades to the neighbouring Pyrmont, Ultimo and Haymarket districts set to make Darling Harbour a first-choice destination for business, convention and leisure travellers”.

“Our relationship with Accor is a long one and we believe that Sofitel branding of the hotel will help maximise the potential of the hotel asset,” he said. “Accor has been a pioneer in the Darling Harbour precinct for over 20 years,

and having developed some of Sydney’s best and most progressive hotels, we are confident that they will deliver an outstanding product for both domestic and international visitors.”

Schwartz also called on the State Government to consider a helipad for the top of the Darling Harbour hotel, arguing that many comparable international convention cities have CBD helipads, including Melbourne, and he believes that a city aiming to be a leading player in the international convention and exhibition market requires international infrastructure support.

”We applaud the NSW Government for their vision to re-generate the Darling Harbour precinct, and an ideal addition to the precinct would be a purpose-built helipad on top of the Sofitel to service the ICC and Sydney more widely,” he said.

“Such helipads are available in cities like New York, London and Melbourne, and it will significantly benefit Sydney’s business and convention profile to have a helipad developed at Darling Harbour.”

Sydney to get new 5-star hotelWatch the video in the CIM iPad app.

Conference sector ‘catching up’The conference sector is finally “catching up”, according to Simon McGrath, chief operating officer of Accor Pacific.

McGrath, speaking at the World of Accor expo, held at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth last month, said that the conference sector, similar to the corporate travel sector, “probably had a softer last 12 months, with the


Melbourne reports economic boostThe Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) has achieved a 32 per cent increase in economic contribution from secured business events in the 2013/2014 financial year from the previous year.

Economic contribution reached $246 million from the 175 business events secured by MCB in the same year that saw Melbourne host three of the world’s largest and most prestigious health-related conferences, which were won by MCB in previous years.

“The competition to secure business events for Melbourne is now stronger than ever before, so to finish the financial year up on the previous year is fantastic and further demonstrates why Melbourne is Australasia’s leading meetings and conference destination,” said MCB chief executive Karen Bolinger.

“Melbourne IQ’s strengths enabled us to secure four major international association conferences – the World Congress on Public Health, the World Congress on Intensive and Critical Care Medicine, World Engineers’ Convention and XIII International Congress of Dermatology – which will collectively contribute over $48 million to the Victorian economy from 2017 to 2021.

“By hosting the 22nd World Diabetes Congress in December and the World Congress of Cardiology and International Congress of World Federation of Hemophilia in May, an estimated $100 million was injected into the state’s economy from the 20,000 delegates in attendance.”

Convention centre ‘crucial’ for RockhamptonThe construction of a 1000 person convention centre is crucial to the future prosperity of Rockhampton in Central Queensland (CQ), according to regional development organisation Capricorn Enterprise’s chief executive, Mary Carroll.

“Rockhampton is the only major city in Queensland without a top-class convention centre capable of attracting significant events,” she said.

“Although our preference is for a modern stadium incorporating a convention centre, we believe it is possible and very desirable to build such a centre before a decision is finalised on the CQ NRL Bid and that is the case we will be making to the State and

Federal Governments.”

Commitments from all sides of state politics have been secured to fund a stadium should the National Rugby League award a premiership franchise to the city.

Carroll said it was likely the stadium and convention centre complex would be built in the existing sporting precinct along the Fitzroy River.

“A high quality convention centre would provide an immediate economic benefit to the region,” she said. “It is frustrating to see cities like Mackay and Gladstone securing events that should be coming to Rockhampton as the capital of Central Queensland.”

The proposed Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort in Tropical North Queensland has the support of the Cairns community, with a recent survey showing nearly 70 per cent of locals support the project.

Aquis recently commissioned ReachTEL to conduct the survey of 1212 residents across the Cairns Local Government Area to gauge support for the integrated resort at Yorkeys Knob.

Facilities at the resort would include eight hotels, high-end retail shopping, an aquarium, two theatres, and convention and exhibition facilities.

Nearly 70 per cent of respondents surveyed were in support of Aquis, with 51 per cent indicating they “strongly support the project” and a further 16.2 per cent indicating they “support” the project.

The survey also found that nearly 72 per cent of those surveyed believed the project would have a “positive” impact on the local economy, and more than 70 per cent of people believed the Cairns region would see an increase in tourism due to Aquis. Nearly 60 per cent said they would visit the resort.

The survey also identified those issues which most concern the community, which included the environment (23.9 per cent), increased housing and rental prices (25.7 per cent) and issues associated with gambling (13.3 per cent). The company says it will use this information to help it “further refine the project to ensure we are meeting all of the community’s expectations”

Survey shows local support for Aquis

Conference sector ‘catching up’uncertainty of the Federal Government, the election and then the budget”.

“The last thing you’re going to do is spend $250,000 or $300,000 on a conference if you’re not quite sure what the state of the economy is,” he said. “But I think the confidence in the corporate sector is starting to see people [book conferences]. We were seeing it typically in companies that have

sales forces. They’re all saying ‘the market is going to grow, let’s get our sales force engaged, redirect them, ramp that up’.

“We’re seeing that in our forecasts and in the results of the last two months. The occupancy rate for conferences for example for the last two months was around 85 per cent of conferencing space where that wouldn’t have been the case 12 months ago.”


BestCities rank amongst the worlds’ most innovative cities

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Six BestCities partners feature on Business Insider’s 2014 list of the “18 Most Innovative Cities in the World”, released last month.

“Innovation can be defined as ‘finding a better way of doing something’ which as the world’s first convention bureau alliance, BestCities Global Alliance has been doing for more than a decade, delivering the best professional practices and service to the

meetings industry,” said Karen Bolinger, BestCities board chair and chief executive of Melbourne Convention Bureau.

“Each BestCities destination demonstrates high standards of creativity and innovation across a broad range of traits and industries making them all worthy beneficiaries of the recognition bestowed by both organisations.”

The 18 Most Innovative Cities in the World

list rates cities using a range of metrics from patents per capita to skyscraper height to assess how they are pushing the limits of industry, design, and urban planning, while rethinking the way people live and work.

The six BestCities partners to make the list are Singapore (pictured), Copenhagen, Cape Town, Vancouver, Dubai and Regional Affiliate Member Tokyo.

Dubai wins landmark conferenceDubai has won the rights to host the 2015 International Dragon Award Meeting (2015 IDA Annual Meeting), the first time the meeting has been held outside of Asia.

The International Dragon Award is a biennial International Chinese life insurance and financial services industry event organised by the Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress. The 2015 event will take place at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center in Dubai from August 22–25.

Chairman of the Congress, Richard Wu, said they chose Dubai “not only because it is one of the most attractive tourism destinations, but also has a state-of-the-art business and convention centre which is equipped with the latest facilities”.

“There is confidence that Dubai’s accessibility in terms of airlift; the number of well-designed hotels and the highest quality service standards will make the 2015 IDA Annual Meeting a successful business event,” he added.

Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur has won the right to host the Worldchefs Congress in 2018, only the second time the conference has been held in Southeast Asia.

Organised by the World Association of Chefs’ Societies, the Congress will see around 1000 culinary heavyweights from all over the world gather to discuss the latest developments in the field and compete in the Worldchefs Global Chefs Challenge.

“In line with our goals to attract international business events, we are honoured that the World Association of Chefs’ Societies has selected Kuala Lumpur as the venue for its Worldchefs Congress in 2018,” said Zulkefli Haji Sharif, chief executive of Malaysia

Convention & Exhibition Bureau.

“This is also a testament to Malaysia’s vibrant and diverse culinary scene. We look forward to hosting the crème de la crème of the culinary world in 2018.”

According to Worldchefs continental director, Asia, Rick Stephen, Malaysia’s bid was successful not only because it met the requirements, but also because it was able to whet delegates’ appetites.

“We were impressed by the presentation and the culinary diversity available in Malaysia,” he said. “Our delegates were able to get a small taste of the country at this year’s Congress, and we found ourselves wanting more. As such, Malaysia was a natural choice for the 2018 Worldchefs Congress.”

Malaysia’s winning bid received a royal boost when Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Tunku Azizah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Iskandar, patron of the Chefs Association of Malaysia, in a recorded address, extended the country’s hospitality and promised Worldchefs delegates that they would not regret selecting Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur says ‘Yes Chef’


Business travel in the Asia Pacific, led by China, outpaces the rest of the world, according to a newly released travel forecast by the GBTA Foundation, the education and research arm of the Global Business Travel Association.

Overall, the forecast expects global business travel spending to hit a record US$1.18 trillion ($1.26 trillion) in 2014, a 6.9 per cent growth over the previous year.

According to the GBTA BTI Outlook – Annual Global Report & Forecast, which details travel spending in 75 countries, Asia Pacific owns the largest share of the business travel spend market with 38 per cent, followed by North America (21 per cent) and Western Europe (24 per cent). GBTA expects that by 2018, Asia Pacific will have gained another 5 per cent in market share, while the US and Western Europe will lose 3 per cent and 2 per cent, respectively.

Driven by infrastructure investments,

Abu Dhabi hits the roadMore than 300 travel agents and consultants from Australia’s leisure and business events sectors have met with some of Abu Dhabi’s top operators at the city’s recent Australian roadshow.

Organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), the roadshow travelled to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

The roadshow came as Abu Dhabi celebrates double-digit growth in guest numbers, according to figures released by TCA Abu Dhabi. During the month of June 4522 Australian guests checked into Abu Dhabi accommodation – a 22 per cent rise on June last year – with guest nights also increasing by 23 per cent.

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, recently increased its presence in Australia, launching daily flights out of Perth to Abu Dhabi.

“Now is the perfect time for us to capitalise on the interest and increase awareness of the Abu Dhabi as a destination which will no doubt result from the new Perth flights,” said Michael Woods, country manager for TCA Abu Dhabi Australia.

Asia Pacific dominates global business travel

exports and service development, business travel spending in China has grown from US$32 billion ($34 billion) in 2000 to US$225 billion ($240 billion) in 2013, an average of 16.2 per cent each year. By comparison, growth in business travel spending from the US has grown at an annual rate of just 1.1 per cent since 2000.

Outrigger on the Lagoon, Fiji has launched its first public community tourism project, underlying its commitment to the local culture and communities.

The initiative involves the building of a large bure (traditional meeting hall) at Conua School in the Sigatoka Valley. When completed the building will be the centrepiece of the village and have the capacity to accommodate over 100 people for both school and village meetings and community events. Construction will take approximately 12 to 18 months and be undertaken with the assistance and support of guests, including business events groups, staying at the resort.

The project, which is estimated to cost approximately FJD$100,000 ($57,700), is being driven by the chairman of the Coral Coast Hotels Association and Outrigger Resorts area general manager, Peter Hopgood.

"This community tourism project will enable guests to volunteer their time over one or two days during their holiday to assist the resort's engineering team with all aspects of the construction phase from basic labour

Outrigger gives back to community in Fijiwork to more skilled trades," he said.

"When guests participate in the project, they will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Fiji community by assisting with building this Bure.

"They will also have time to interact with the local school children, share a bowl of kava with the local villagers and complete the day

with a visit to one of Fiji’s most prestigious cultural sites, Tavuni Hill Fort.”

The project is a “win, win, win” for all involved, he added.

"We hope that our guests will experience the passion that we feel for this project and take up a unique opportunity to give something back to the local community,” he said.


COVER STORY

Australian Technology Park (ATP), close to Sydney’s CBD, is a venue like no other. It is the industrial heritage on display that makes the first impression, with the Locomotive Workshop showcasing the fascinating history of ATP. Recently re-launched as an event space, the Locomotive Workshop offers organisers a cutting-edge industrial space that creates a memorable environment for all types of events from stand-up functions to sit down dinners.

The Exhibition Hall is a dramatic space that is limited only by your imagination. It’s versatility was showcased earlier in the year with the 17th annual Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Gold Dinner (pictured). Transformed into an aristocratic Louie Vuitton mansion with drapes and partitions depicting a lavish Victorian portrait gallery, with over a dozen chandeliers hanging from the ceiling,

ice flower sculptures on every table and Persian rugs adorning the concrete floor, it was truly a night of opulence for the guests.

“As the hanging chandeliers glistened and champagne corks popped, silk draped walls and a string quartet transported guests to a night of 19th century French luxury,” says ATP’s director of sales and marketing, Ruby Chronis. “Walking into the Exhibition Hall and seeing it transformed into a French mansion was just phenomenal, especially since 24 hours later the Finders Keepers Markets was held in the same venue. It provided the perfect backdrop for such an event and

displayed how versatile the space is.”

A magnet for forward thinking companies such as Google and Hewlett-Packard, ATP’s Conference and Exhibition Centre offers wireless infrastructure and comprehensive technical support network, with the experience, equipment and expertise to fulfil even the most technically demanding client requirements.

The Hewlett-Packard World Tour saw the Dining Room and Atrium transformed into a technology hub where 500 attendees immersed themselves in the world of cloud computing, while more than 1300 delegates came to Google Atmosphere’s business and technology showcase in August, with Chronis describing it as a perfect fit.

“Google complements ATP’s vision of being an innovative and a technology-focused organisation,” she adds.

It’s not just technology companies that seek out ATP with the International Food and Wine Festival expected to attract thousands of food

enthusiasts who will be treated to pop-up bars, stalls, music, art and entertainment across three days in October.

More than 200,000 delegates came through the doors at ATP in the 2013-2014 financial year to experience the versatility of one of Sydney’s most captivating venues. With an additional 700sqm of new events space and its unique blend of state-of-the-art technology and industrial heritage, there is no better place to create a truly memorable end of year celebration – a venue with its eyes firmly on the future while honouring its past.

First impressions count

View slideshow in the CIM iPad app.

Australian Technology Park transforms events from ordinary

to extraordinary, transporting guests from industrial chic to

19th century French luxury.


Q&A

Q: How has social media changed the events landscape?

A: I think it is becoming a phenomena that people are now beginning to reckon with. People weren’t threatened by social media and technology until one, maybe two years ago. Before that I don’t believe people realised how it was going to stop actual communication. Now there are people that all they do is text. They don’t pick up the phone and call and they won’t get together so much, or when they do get together they are texting somebody else. I think that a lot of communication breakdowns have happened because of it. You can send things in a text or an email that are mistaken. You may be kidding but it isn’t taken that way if you don’t hear the voice inflection.

Q: How has new technology been incorporated into events?

A: One of the things that has become very important with corporate clients, especially clients such as auto companies who I do a lot of, is doing things on iPads. Attendees are given an iPad at the start of the event and are tested all through the process to see if they are really being a part of the conference. They can’t move on to the next step until they finish the one they are on. It’s very interesting how they [the clients] are keeping tabs if you will.

Q: Is return on investment (ROI) from events more important for clients nowadays?

A: Producing a tangible ROI has always been a challenge for the events industry. A face to face meeting might lead to something

two years from now. But that would not have happened if it had been via email or text. However, if you bring in marketing you can see ROI immediately. If you introduce Twitter into an event one person, or influencer, can tweet to 25 other influencers who then retweet, and that can turn into thousands. You can measure that.

Q: What are the biggest changes you have seen in the industry over your career?

A: I think a lot of the creativity has been taken out of the industry because everyone expects everything now. If someone calls for a request for a proposal they expect it within two or three days and it has taken away being able to percolate ideas and to work with them. I’m sorry to see that happen. It’s expected now and if you don’t do it you don’t look professional. It’s more difficult doing business now than when I first started because then you had moments you could pull back. Nowadays you have no time to do that. You have a cell phone on you and everyone expects to have that number and be able to contact you 24/7.

Q: If lead times are shortening, does that mean client relationships are also become more short-term?

A: For me long-term relationships are still key. I have had many of my clients for 25-30 years. We have kept the same clients because we served them properly and they don’t want to reinvent the wheel; we have made it easy [for them]. Also during the recession their budgets were cut but we were loyal to them, and in turn they have been loyal to us. You don’t have that without face to face interaction to build a relationship.

Headlining the speakers at the recent Inspire Ex show in Sydney, US-based event guru John Daly shares his insights on the events industry from a career spanning over 30 years, writes Sheridan Randall.

Facing up to events

Watch the video in the CIM iPad app.


NEW ZEALAND

Building for the futureWith unprecedented infrastructure development in the pipeline nationally, New Zealand’s future is looking rosy, writes Kathy Ombler.

New trans-Tasman partnerships, international convention centre plans revealed, hotel developments, continued innovation and excitement in the Christchurch rebuild and growing awareness of quality in the regions are all current highlights in the New Zealand business events arena.

Concept plans for Skycity Entertainment Group’s New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) featuring a flexible, four-level, 3000 capacity convention and exhibitions facility, with an adjoining 300 room, 5-star hotel, were revealed last month. Also confirmed in August were both the development consortium, Plenary Conventions New Zealand, and operator,

Accor Hotels, for the new Christchurch Convention Centre.

Meanwhile Wellington and Queenstown are also making good headway towards new build, dedicated convention centre developments that will add exciting New Zealand options for medium to large business events.

Bjoern Spreitzer, Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) international business events manager, says international bids for conferences in New Zealand have exceeded goals for the past year and are expected to increase even more in the next 12 months. In June, national industry showcase Meetings hosted not only a large contingent of Australian buyers but also a record number of long haul

international buyers, from the United States and throughout Southeast Asia, he adds.

Spreitzer says one of the most significant opportunities for building trans-Tasman business has been the new partnership signed with the Australian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE).

“This joint partnership will get us some really good exposure,” he says. “We will have access to networking events in Australia and we will run an educational programme for Australian association executives to come to New Zealand. We are surprised

about how many have never been to New Zealand. We believe there is a gap and AuSAE, particularly with the appointment of Brett Jeffrey as AuSAE general manager New Zealand, will give us access to new people in Australia and opportunity to fill that gap.”

Spreitzer says TNZ’s new business events manager Australia, Helen Bambury, is also developing new platforms such as the Australian CEO forum.

Another boost will be the extension of New Zealand’s Conference Assist Programme to include marketing packages to make a conference more attractive to attend and therefore help increase delegate numbers, he adds.

Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.

Ph

oto by R

ob Su

isted.

BEYOND THE AGENDA

businessevents.newzealand.com

A business event in New Zealand goes beyond expectation.

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

TOU0228_Business Events - CIM Magazine FP.indd 1 20/08/14 2:52 pm


Auckland ‘front of mind’As attention focuses on the future potential of the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), Auckland has already become “front of mind” for an increasing number of Australian business events organisers, according to Auckland Convention Bureau manager, Anna Hayward.

“We are seeing a marked increase in site visits and famil trips from the Australian market,” she says. “Now, more than ever, we are really getting a sense that Auckland is the cool kid on the block when it comes to hot conference and events destinations in Australasia.

“Precincts like Queen’s Wharf, Wynyard Quarter and Britomart are emerging as destinations in their own right and really adding to the business event

experience. Delegates from Australia can hop on a plane as if they were travelling to the next state, with the added bonus of duty free.”

Hayward says the Bureau is upping its game in Australia.

“As part of the [new] Business Events Plan we will be employing a full-time Australian-based contractor who will be an on-the-ground resource for our important Australian market,” she adds.

Recent increased focus to attract international business has paid dividends, she says. Last year the city hosted 13 international scientific conventions. Twelve successful bids for future conferences are expected to bring more than NZ$10 million ($9 million) into the region, and 13 further bids with potential combined value of NZ$17.2 million ($15.4 million)are pending.

It’s exciting times at Skycity, with design concepts completed for the NZICC, along with celebration of a major milestone, the 10th anniversary of the Skycity Auckland Convention Centre.

Since opening the centre has hosted more than 6500 events, including many large scale national and global conferences. Highlights have included the annual Microsoft Tech Ed, for 2000 people; Asian and Oceanic Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; World Dairy Federation Summit; and World Small Animal Veterinary Conference. Strong relationships with the medical industry

have seen the centre hosting international anaesthetists, dentists, surgeons, cardiologist and physicians.

Adding appeal for delegates have been the adjacent and integrated Skycity Hotel and 5-star Skycity Grand Hotel, plus completion in 2014 of the Federal Street precinct and its award-winning eateries, right on the

Convention Centre’s doorstep.

“We’ve had people who have been with us since day one and we’ve continued to evolve with new out-catering options, presentations and packages, with menus inspired by Skycity Auckland’s exceptional restaurants,” says Skycity Auckland general manager John Mortensen.

Looking ahead, new cuisine offerings include innovative banquet packages inspired by the Federal Street restaurants, which include The Grill by Sean Connolly, Depot and Federal Delicatessen by Al Brown, Masu by Nic Watt and The Sugar Club

“Now, more than ever, we are really

getting a sense that Auckland is the cool

kid on the block when it comes to

hot conference and events destinations

in Australasia.”

The Museum of Transport and Technology's exhibition space.


Call +64 9 9164977 | Email [email protected] | Visit www.spencerhotel.co.nz/christmas 2014

Christmas Parties 2014Celebrate in style with a mouthwatering Christmas buffet

followed by a night of dancing and being merry!

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Theming additional

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by Peter Gordon. In addition, new Convention Centre menus will offer fresh choices following global trends towards healthy eating and sustainability.

Also new is the launch of integrated free wi-fi across the convention centre and Skycity restaurants and hotels with no

download limit.

Having the right people makes a difference, says Mortensen. Returning staff include director of sales Gillian Officer and convention services manager, Rakesh Mishra. New senior convention team members include Jessica Vandy, Tania

Barnes and Tanya Dustin.

In other Auckland news, Auckland Museum’s sustainability drive has been recognised with an Enviro Gold Award from Qualmark, New Zealand’s official accreditation agency. The Museum is not resting on its laurels, however;

almost 200 solar roof panels are set to be installed to boost power generation.

The landmark war memorial museum offers several dramatic spaces for small conferences, dinners and functions, plus thought-provoking museum tours and experiences

A banquet set up at Skycity Auckland. Left: An artist's impression of Wero.


www.motat.org.nz/functions | +64 9 815 5801

A unique venue for A memorAble event A unique venue for A memorAble event

Easy choiceChoosing the right venues, activities, accommodation and transport for your event couldn’t be easier, with free, expert advice from Auckland Convention Bureau. Inspiration and inside knowledge at your fingertips.

Auckland Convention [email protected]+64 9 365 0592

aucklandnz.com/conventions

encompassing permanent collections and touring exhibitions. From late November the Museum will showcase a brand new exhibition from the World of WearableArt (WOW), prior to its embarking on a world tour – the perfect opportunity to host a WOW-inspired event.

The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) has opened

up its main exhibition space for functions. Up to 150 cocktail guests can surround themselves with cars from history, cars from the movies and cars driven by famous kiwis. From cars to planes, the new offering adds to the existing function space in the museum’s Aviation Display Hall.

Stage one of Wero at the Vodaphone Events Centre

will also open in 2016. This includes a 1200sqm function centre adjoining the current events space, with the ability to operate as one flat floor or six individual break out rooms, each accommodating up to 190 delegates. Also opening on the same site in 2016 is a white water Olympic-standard stadium – ideal for team

building and incentives.

Further new activities suited to incentives and partner programmes include Auckland Seaplanes’ scenic flights, with water take offs and landings, over the Hauraki Gulf in an original 1961 De Hallivard plane, and Fine Art Tours NZ, hosting exclusive, customised tours of Auckland’s finest art


A F O CA L P O I N T F O R E XC E L L E N C E

The key to creating a successful event requires more than providing

conference delegates a world-class venue in an attractive city.

The standout value for our cl ients is in the opportunit ies ,

connections and ideas generated at every single event .

Contact us now to discuss your next opportunity in New Zealand. Phone +64 9 363 6070, email [email protected], or visit skycityconventions.co.nz CREATINg CONNECTIONs

SKYA4038 SCCC Brand Ad_Half PG 210x125_FOCAL POINT_3.0.indd 1 5/08/14 5:03 pm

collections. Hike Bike Ako offers hiking, biking and “learning” tours on Waiheke Island, hosted by Maori guides with direct ancestral links to the island.

On the water Ipipiri, a cruise catamaran with 30 ocean view cabins, spacious sundeck, restaurant and bar, is now available for overnight and customised private cruises, while

the Explore Group, which offers private cruises and America’s Cup sailing experiences, has announced daily departures to several gulf islands on their power cat Discovery 5.

In hotel news, Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre has expanded, now offering three versatile spaces catering for two to 300 people. In the CBD,

Stamford Plaza has revealed plans for a multi-million dollar guest room refurbishment to be completed late this year.

Across the harbour, Takapuna’s Spencer on Byron has been upgraded to silver status with accessibility accreditation framework Be.Accessible. This was achieved after the hotel made significant changes to

improve facilities and services for people with disabilities. In return, the Be.Accessible charitable trust is itself holding a three day conference at the Spencer on Byron, which is located just a few minutes’ walk from Takapuna Beach and offers stunning views across the Hauraki Gulf from both meeting and guest rooms.

From left: Auckland's waterfront has been revitalised; A view of Auckland's Skyline from the waterfront; Eco Zip Adventures on Waiheke Island; Britomart offers designer shopping and dining.


Inspiring events in Hamilton and Waikato

Hobbiton Movie Set, Waitomo Caves, world-leading agricultural innovation, an internationally-ranked university and now a world class cycling facility, where corporate groups can test their riding skills – the Hamilton/Waikato offering just keeps on expanding. Happily, awareness is also growing, according to the region’s convention bureau manager, Jenny Tukiwaho-Stokes.

“We are hosting weekly individual famils that are converting directly into business. We had the best Meetings [tradeshow] in terms of bookings confirmed. We have identified three themes to focus on; education, with great university leads, medical and agriculture. The product has always been there but the awareness wasn’t. Now people know Hamilton/Waikato is a suitable destination. Our venues are busy and our hotels are busy.”

Waikato’s new Avantidrome, home to the multi-Commonwealth medal winning New Zealand cycle team, opened in April. The Cambridge-based velodrome has also become quickly popular for corporate

meetings, team building and events, says programme coordinator Dean Forman.

“People want to be here because there is a point of difference,” he says. “You can have your corporate meeting then get down for a blast on a world-class cycling track.”

Instruction is given to riding the Avanti track bikes (fixed gear, no brakes) on the 43.5 degree velodrome track (already among the world’s fastest with the wood still settling). Forman says video coverage of riders, sponsors and brand names can be displayed on fixed screens, challenges can include “slow” races, slaloms or formations requiring communication skills. Up to 60 people can be hosted in two hour sessions, rotating through different activities such as track riding, team games, rowing machine competitions and resting.

For serious work, or corporate hosting, the Avanti One and Avanti Two meeting rooms can open into one space (capacity 120 seated). Each room features floor to ceiling glass with good light and a striking view

overlooking the velodrome track. The stadium floor (3000sqm and 91m long), is the third largest space for seated dinners in the Waikato and offers great acoustics, fixed surround sound and temperature-controlled air vents. Catering can be provided by Kerr & Ladbrook Catering, who cater for the stadium’s Revolve Café from their commercial onsite kitchen.

Another quality new venue for small private functions and dinners is Hamilton’s Chim Choo Ree, judged New Zealand’s best regional restaurant in the national Cuisine Awards 2014. The 65 seat, riverside restaurant serves modern European food, with French techniques and Asian influences, and also offers outcatering.

Bookings for the region’s major venues are consistently busy, says Tukiwaho-Stokes. Claudelands Conference & Exhibition Centre features a 5000 seat indoor auditorium, dedicated conference facility for up to 1200 delegates, two integrated exhibition spaces totalling 6000sqm, several small and versatile break out or

meeting rooms, and a long, glass fronted foyer opening out to open green space. The purpose-built centre is just a few minutes’ walk across the river from the CBD’s hotels, restaurants and shops.

Mystery Creek Events Centre, home of the new Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays, the largest agricultural show in the southern hemisphere, has begun a four stage development project. This will enhance facilities for conferences and events as well as the annual farming show, says business development team leader, Ammie Hardie. First up will be a pavilion expansion, encompassing a new 1000sqm entrance and replacing older structures with new buildings that will be available for conferences and dinners.

“We host a lot of conferences that require exhibition space for large items and vehicles, for example milk tankers and agricultural machinery,” Hardie says. “Timing a conference to tie in with a pre or post educational component around the Fieldays is a great opportunity in this region. For example, holding a

Above: Hobbiton has launched Evening Dinner Tours. Right: Off-site

dinners can be held at Hobbiton’s Green Dragon Inn.


Inspiring events in Hamilton and Waikatodairy industry summit followed by a visit to the Fieldays, which showcases the best of our farming and agricultural technology. Innovation is such a big part of what the Fieldays are about.”

New Zealand heritage, dairying history in particular, at the Mystery Creek Heritage Area presents great potential for fun and theming. The Bledisloe Pavilion (500 reception-style) and lakeside heritage village (encompassing an old school, church, forge, gaol and the New Zealand Dairy Farm Museum), makes a delightful setting for a themed picnic, jazz afternoon or barbecue. Hardie believe it’s one of Waikato’s best kept secrets.

An atmospheric event is now easy to achieve at Waitomo Caves, since Discover Waitomo recently opened up its Cathedral

Cave, known for its outstanding acoustics, for conference groups. Famous performers, such as operatic diva Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, have performed in this cave in the past, now groups are invited to enjoy the underground space, for an operatic performance perhaps, before adjourning to the architecturally-striking Waitomo Caves Visitor Centre for dinner.

Hobbiton Movie Set has launched Evening Dinner Tours. All hobbit holes and movie landmarks such as the Party

Tree, mill and bridge can be lit up at night, guests are given handheld lanterns for a guided tour of The Shire, and dinner served before roaring fires in The Green Dragon Inn or adjoining marquee (which can cater for up to 270 guests).

Japanese Zen, Italian Renaissance, American Modernist – the already varied collections of the Hamilton Gardens are continually being enhanced, with a new Tropical Garden now open and a Surrealist space next on the drawing board. Recognised

as one of New Zealand’s few Gardens of International Significance, these riverside gardens, with varied meeting and function facilities offer inspiring space for functions and partner programmes.

Waikato is also well known for its thoroughbred horse racing industry, with local guide Peter Evans providing exclusive access for incentives groups to leading studs, Trelawney, Windsor Park and Cambridge (home of top Australasian sires Sir Tristram and Zabeel).

The Arena at Claudelands Conference Centre.


With its long history as a tourism destination, Maori culture, geothermal heritage, mineral spas, forests and lakes, Rotorua easily has both the appeal and infrastructure to host major business events. Direct trans-Tasman flights now open up these opportunities for Australian association business, according to Warren Harvey, of Events and Venues Rotorua.

Flights between Sydney and Rotorua operate twice weekly from September through to May and multiple daily flights link Rotorua with Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch year round.

“Association business that generally goes around the states can now include Rotorua and a taste of New Zealand culture,” says Harvey. “A key thing about Rotorua is that we have the accommodation to handle large conferences, we have 950 hotel rooms within three minutes’ walk of the Energy Events Centre.”

Looking ahead, Harvey says the 2014 conference months are full, delegate numbers are up, and several major events are booked for 2015.

“This is a rotational business and it seems 2015 is our year, with TRENZ, Local Government New Zealand and large

international education and medical conferences locked in.”

The purpose-built Energy Event Centre can host up to 3500 theatre style or 300 trade booths, and can be divided into three separate spaces. Also under the events and venues umbrella is the more intimate Rotorua Convention Centre and adjoining, recently renovated Civic Theatre.

In July, Rotorua’s largest conference hotel, Distinction Rotorua, completed a refurbishment of all rooms. Unlimited wi-fi is now free throughout the hotel, with separate wi-fi installed for conference spaces. These include the Ballroom (500 theatre or 320 banquet) which can be divided into three rooms and opens out to a high ceiling foyer, which is ideal tradeshow space.

Distinction Hotel is located a few minutes’ walk from iconic Maori and geothermal destinations, Te Puia and Whakarewarewa Village.

Another appealing venue to learn about Rotorua’s volatile past is the Rotorua Museum, which features exhibits on geothermal and volcanic power, Polynesian voyageurs, healing waters and heritage. Conference options include partner programmes with private

guided tours, cocktail functions (up to 300) with galleries open after hours for exclusive viewing, and private dining (90 seated).

Theatrical entertainment and history with a

touch of risqué are on the menu at the Blue Baths. The heritage building has now been transformed into a stylish function facility. In-house Emerge Entertainment Team can produce singers, dancers and even synchronised swimmers, and the in-house catering team won the Outstanding Caterer award at the Rotorua Hospitality Awards 2014.

The Rotorua region also has plenty of natural attractions for conference groups.

Sails at the Redwoods, for example, an intimate canopy space surrounded by giant Californian Redwood forest, presents myriad options, according to Event Impressions’ Jacqui Alexander.

“Groups can coach out for breakfast, sip coffee, shots or bubbles on a walk through the redwoods then enjoy a hot breakfast relaxing on bean bags under the canopy and be back in the plenary room by 9am,” she says. “They can call here for a powhiri (traditional Maori welcome) on the way in from the airport, while their luggage is delivered to their hotel rooms. They can enjoy casual or formal sit down lunches or dinners, with catering from Rotorua’s top hotels and caterers.”

Pure Cruise director and skipper Matt Horder had a vision: to host exclusive eco cruises on one of Rotorua’s beautiful lakes, Rotoiti.

The Pure Cruise 53 foot sailing catamaran, Tiua, is now available for exclusive corporate dinners, incentives sailing experiences, fishing, learning about the rich history and culture and simply the opportunity to sail in style to the hidden and otherwise inaccessible bays, coves and hot pools of Rotoiti.

Improved access for RotoruaFrom left: Rotorua Museum; Rotorua is famous for its geothermal activity.

“Association business that generally goes

around the states can now include Rotorua

and a taste of New Zealand culture.”

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Taupo wows for incentivesHigh end incentive product is a feature in the Taupo region, as a recent Australian business events famil group discovered, says Destination Great Lake Taupo convention bureau manager, Karen Rainbow. In an action packed three days, the group experienced a taste of trout fishing, jetboating, a “wilderness butchery lesson”, helicopter flights and relaxed in hot mineral pools. Accommodation showcased included luxury

properties Huka Lodge, Hilton Lake Taupo and Tongariro Lodge as well as Millennium Manuels and Oreti Village.

Rainbow says luxury developments continue, with the construction of a new lodge and conference centre underway at The Kinloch Club – New Zealand’s only Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. Due for completion in early 2015, the lodge will offer onsite villa accommodation overlooking the golf course and Lake Taupo.

Both Rotorua and Taupo have developed reputations for their mountain biking opportunities. Taupo’s Great Lake Trail, officially opened in April, encompasses 71km of Grade 3 biking and hiking trails that feature spectacular views across the lake to the Kaimanawa and Tongariro National Park mountains. The new trails, part of Nga Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail, are supported by a range of road and lake shuttle and guiding services.

New Zealand regions compete for international business events

For more wacky break out activities, two New Zealand firsts for Taupo include the recently opened Anarchy Boarding Park, for wakeboarding, and Pure Kiwi Adventures’ first commercial “Flyboard Operation”.

Recent conference wins for Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin have demonstrated the potential for all New Zealand regions to compete for international conferences and events.

Earlier this month the University of Canterbury won the right to host the Environmental Criminology and Crime Analysis (ECCA) Annual Symposium in June 2015, which will see around 80 delegates visit the city.

The latest success marks the second conference win for Christchurch in the last two months. In June, the city also secured the right to host the 20th Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS)

Congress, which will bring 400 Asia-Pacific delegates to Christchurch in 2016.

In another win for the South Island, Dunedin has won the right to host The Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference in 2018 with over 500 delegates.

In June it was announced that Wellington will host the 7th

International Symposium on Submarine Mass Movements and Their Consequence thanks to the efforts of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) who bid for the 2015 event.

These wins are great examples of regions playing to their strengths to set themselves

apart from the competition to secure valuable international events. Focusing on sectors that the region can deliver expertise in, or can tell a compelling story about, is a key factor setting the bids apart.

However these bids also highlight the other strengths of New Zealand as a business events destination: proximity, diversity and accessibility. There are few places in the world where a conference venue, accommodation and research facilities are within short, often walking, distance from each other.

Combine this with a variety of evening venues and break-out options close by, as well as excellent flight connections

within New Zealand, across the Tasman and internationally, and we have the compelling package all New Zealand conference destinations stand for.

Working to promote these strengths is a core element of Tourism New Zealand’s business events strategy. With new conferencing facilities planned for Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown and Auckland, the potential to bid for larger scale events will increase, making New Zealand’s proposition even more attractive on the international stage.

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

Left: Mountain biking is a popular activity. Right: Flyboarding on Lake Taupo.


James Cook

Closest 4.5 star hotel to Wellington’s newest convention centre; Shed 6

8 versatile meeting and function rooms

Can cater for up to 250 delegates

Located in the heart of Wellington CBD

147 The Terrace · Wellington New Zealand

P +64 (4) 499 9500 E [email protected]

W www.grandchancellorhotels.com

Location, location, location!

Action aplenty in Wellington

Wellington is enjoying a burst of activity and accolades buzzing around the capital. A new, purpose-built convention centre, with adjoining Hilton Hotel, seems likely to get the jump on other New Zealand convention centre developments. While Wellington’s status as “events capital” was confirmed when five out of nine annual NZ Association of Event Professionals Awards were handed to city events last month.

Positively Wellington Tourism chief executive David Perks says the convention centre proposal, involving a developer and council joint venture is moving along quickly.

“Public consultation closed in August and it is apparent there is a lot of positive support from the tourism and wider business communities,” he says. “We anticipate it will proceed as

the proposal has been agreed in principle by council and the capital cost upfront is the developer’s. We are hoping to be able to start selling convention centre space by the end of this year for events from early 2017.”

The planned 2500sqm convention centre space will encompass one level that can operate as a single plenary theatre or be divided.

“The theatre will seat 2500 delegates, however the real target will be 600 to 1200 people with flexibility to use the space in a number of diverse ways,” says Perks. “That’s where we see the greatest appeal for Wellington, for medium to large Australasian business, the size of conference that currently tends to circulate around the state capitals and resort destinations of Australia.

“The Hilton Hotel (the proposed

adjoining 5-star, 165 room property) will manage the convention centre, while the proximity directly across the road of Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand, creates a unique proposition in being able to use the two venues together.”

Meanwhile the city’s current 5-star properties have sharpened up, led by a multi-million dollar refurbishment of the InterContinental Wellington. The hotel’s final refurbishment phase will focus on the nine meeting rooms, which will be available from February next year.

Stage two of the Museum Art Hotel's NZ$2 million dollar ($1.8 million) “Coco Chanel inspired” refurbishment is now done and stage three, will be completed in early in 2015.

Owner Chris Parkin says lush gold and mirror interiors

intensified with the colours of wall art and quirky designer lamps bring these rooms into the current art design idiom of the rest of the hotel.

“It’s all part of our desire to continue offering our guests an inspiring point of differentiation from the traditional hotel,” he says.

The 5-star Bolton Hotel is also set for a major makeover and a new Sofitel Wellington (130 rooms including 15 suites) is under construction.

Major city conference hotel James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor has put its hand up for the environment, having secured New Zealand’s highest hotel environmental accolade, the Greenfield Hotel Industry Environmental Initiative Award 2014.

Meanwhile, it’s been one year since the doors opened at Positively Wellington Tourism’s venue, Shed 6, and they’ve hardly been shut, according to chief executive, Glenys Coughlan.

“With more than 80 hires in the first six months the newly fitted out ‘shed’ has been a great addition to Wellington’s business events market,” she says.

Left: The Club InterContinental Lounge, Wellington. Right: Wellington is known for its cosmopolitan CBD.

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Christchurch rebuild moves into to new phaseIt’s all systems go for Christchurch, with the confirmation last month that Plenary Conventions New Zealand, a consortium of international infrastructure firm the Plenary Group, Ngai Tahu Property and Carter Group, has been selected to build the city’s new convention centre. Convention centre and hotel operator Accor has been appointed preferred operator of the new centre, which has a planned opening date of mid to late 2017.

Christchurch & Canterbury Convention Bureau manager Caroline Blanchfield says the announcement means the Bureau can now actively pursue large international conferences for Christchurch.

“We already have significant

interest in events wanting to book at least three years out,” she says. “Now we have the certainty.

“It’s going to be versatile and connected to a vibrant city centre with major hotel development attached to it. It’s exactly what we are after.”

Accor will work with the Crown and Plenary Conventions NZ in the master planning and development phrase. The new Convention Centre will be able to accommodate several events

at the same time, initially with space for up to 1500 people for events of different sizes,

eventually expanding to 2000.

Vbase, manager of the city’s current major venues, opened its latest, ilex Café and Events, at the Christchurch Botanic Garden last month. The

NZ$16.4 million ($14.8 million) centre, overlooks the River Avon and blends white, embossed concrete, glass panels and plant cell motifs to create a visually

striking building that fits well in its botanic surroundings. The function space in ilex comfortably seats up to 160 people and features indoor and outdoor entertaining opportunities.

Vbase general manager, Darren Burden, believes ilex will quickly become a jewel in Christchurch’s crown.

The resurrection of Christchurch’s CBD hotels continues. The All Seasons Hotel, Cashel Street, will re-open with 270 rooms in late 2014 and Hotel Montreal, a new, 5-star 27 room hotel on the previous Chateau Blanc suites site in Montreal Street is under construction. Meanwhile Sudima Hotel Christchurch Airport is building a NZ$20 million ($18 million) extension, including a 4.5 star executive

Vbase venue ilex is Christchurch’s newest venue.

“Plenary Conventions

New Zealand has been selected to build the city’s

new convention centre.”


almost returned to pre-quake levels and will continue to increase. Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia will add 13 per cent capacity (43,000 seats) on trans-Tasman services for summer 2014-2015 and direct Perth-Christchurch Air New Zealand services will recommence in late 2014. Christchurch currently has 35 connections to Sydney per week.

Looking ahead, major developments to excite conferencing visitors include extended loops for the historic Christchurch Tram and, from November, the opportunity to dine onboard with the return of the Restaurant Tram.

Christchurch’s Orana Wildlife Park is embarking on the most ambitious project in its 37 year history, a NZ$6 million ($5.4 million) Great Ape Centre for gorillas and orang-utans, due for completion in March 2015.

Further afield, the Canterbury region offers all the best of quintessential New Zealand, from the wine region of Waipara, thermal resort town Hanmer Springs, mountains, lakes and glaciers of Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park and the Mackenzie Basin, to the braided rivers and broad landscapes of South Canterbury.

From Ashburton Airport, just one hour’s drive south of Christchurch, incentive

groups can launch themselves into freefall with the current Australian skydiving champion, Lee Barraclough, director of Skydiving Kiwis. Views across Canterbury, from the snow-capped Southern Alps to Pacific Ocean coastline, will add to the adrenalin rush of a 200kph freefall.

Airborne themes continue at Ashburton, with the new Aeroview Function Centre, a retro-style venue and theatre for gatherings of up to 100 people recently opened amongst a massive collection of memorabilia – Edison phonographs, a Model T fire engine and WWII Harvard aeroplane, for starters – gathered over decades by Peter and Larraine McQuarter.

Hotel Ashburton is also appealing to business events organisers, having recently refurbished its six meeting rooms and 60 seat restaurant. The 54 room hotel sprawls across 1.6 hectares of gardens on the outskirts of Ashburton.

Incentives groups are also being drawn to the spectacular mountain scenery of Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, says Leigh Stock, new general manager of the Hermitage Hotel in Aoraki/Mt Cook Village. Arranging a toast with actual glacial ice in their cocktails while cruising amongst icebergs on the Tasman Glacier terminal lake, was a highlight for the latest incentive guests, she adds.

Right: An artist's impression of the riverbank precinct. Below: Aoraki/

Mount Cook National Park.

Make life more eventful.

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vbase.co.nz

wing and conference wing that includes five new meeting rooms, raising the hotel’s total cocktail capacity from 180 to 300. The expansion is due for completion in mid 2015.

Hospitality outlets have reportedly returned to 95 per cent of pre-quake levels, and with 907 restaurants, bars and

cafes now open throughout the city there are yet more to come. The Terrace, a NZ$150 million ($135.5 million) development that will include 20 bars and restaurants, along the Oxford Terrace riverfront is due to open in 2015.

International air travellers into Christchurch have also

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Queenstown plans for the future

The southern resort town remains on track for the development of a NZ$60 million ($54 million), 800 capacity, purpose-built convention centre. Queenstown Lakes District Council has voted to proceed with the development, subject to confirmation of central government and local rating funding models. The planned location is “Lakeview”, a river terrace with a stunning outlook over the resort, Lake Wakatipu and Remarkables Mountains, and just five minutes’ walk from town.

A council spokesman says the boutique size and central location were key requirements sought by the conference and tourism sectors for the new centre.

A second, private convention centre proposal located at

Remarkables Park, near Queenstown Airport in Frankton, is currently going through resource consent process.

Australian interest in Queenstown is incredibly high, according to Destination Queenstown Convention Bureau manager Kylie Brittain.

“We had a huge response to our pre-Meetings famil, with 16 buyers joining us for a fun-filled few days.”

Interactive, casual dining and meeting the chefs at live cooking stations as they prepare the country’s finest

produce is the new style at Skyline Queenstown’s radically revamped restaurant. The stunning lake and mountains views, from the top of the Queenstown Skyline Gondola,

the steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere, remain the same. The new-look restaurant re-opened in August, and can cater exclusively for

up to 700 conference delegates. Upstairs, the Wakatipu Room accommodates 220 for a sit down banquet, while the Director’s Room, an intimate private dining space, has become increasingly

popular since the refurbishment, according to conference and events manager Jo Brown.

The main restaurant renovation follows other recent enhancements to Skyline’s food and recreation offerings, beginning with the opening of the Market Kitchen café in June last year. Outside, there’s a wealth of options to get active in the dramatic landscape here; the luge, mountain biking, walking trails, paragliding and bungy jumping.

Millbrook Resort, with its luxury hotel, spa and championship golf course, has developed a new e-brochure, a “go-to-guide” for anyone considering the resort for a conference or event.

With its proximity to Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movie

From left: Skyline Queenstown; The view from roof of the Icon Conference Centre.

“Australian interest in

Queenstown is incredibly high.”


SKQ13111

03 441 [email protected] skyline.co.nz/queenstown/functionsSK

Q132

18

Queenstown’s most spectacular

venue

locations, Heritage Queenstown is receiving strong interest in “Middle Earth” themes from incentive groups, says general

manager Donna Stewart.

“We’re starting to receive inquiries for movie-themed incentives, as incentives

planners capitalise on New Zealand’s movie profile,” she says. “It’s business we love, as we can be so creative in the delivery of the experience. We work closely with local operators for personalised tours of the most famous movie locations.”

Stewart says the Heritage also strives for high impact arrivals, for example airport transfers by jet boat to the lake edge below the hotel.

“It sets the tone for the entire stay,” she says. “After the transfer we can arrange a welcome function on the roof-top of our Icon Conference Centre which, with such stunning views, really creates the wow factor.”

The Icon Conference Centre caters for up to 200 delegates. Meanwhile all 175 guest rooms at the Heritage have recently been refurbished.

Stewart says Heritage Queenstown can also partner incentives groups with the new Heritage Boutique Lake Resort in nearby Cromwell, and organise some adrenaline pumping laps on Cromwell’s new international-standard racing circuit, Highlands Motorsport Park.

Vortex, New Zealand’s only 12D motion theatre, has also just

opened. Packed full of effects such as snow, wind, rain, fire and smoke; all designed to immerse guests in the movie and transport them into a magical world, it’s quickly proving a popular experience for groups. Packages and catering are available.

For partner programmes, pre or post tours or simply getting out of the meeting room and into the fresh mountain air the new Queenstown Trails, more than 100km of cycle and walking trails, were opened late last year. The high quality trails explore country lanes, lake shores, farmland and river gorges, cross swing bridges and pass by the cellar doors of top Central Otago wineries. Several operators offer bike hire, shuttle transport and wine tasting packages.

At Queenstown Airport, a second premium airline lounge has opened, enabling lounge access for premium passengers with Qantas and its partner airlines, and after dark flights into Queenstown have been approved by aviation authorities. This is the first step in a process to achieving evening flights up to 10pm.

Above: Millbrook Resort. Right: High flying fun over

Queenstown.

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Play where film magic is made.Talk to Shelley Eastwood about Heritage Hotels in 17 destinations throughout New Zealand.Phone: +64 9 979 7525Email: [email protected]

Attending IMEX America - see Shelley at the Tourism New Zealand stand #2833.

www.heritagehotels.co.nz/events/conferences

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Historic Dunedin shows growth

Southern city Dunedin is seeing a steady increase in market share for national business events, according to the government Convention Activity Survey.

“Dunedin as a city is starting to see the benefits of the new-look, re-opened Dunedin Centre Enterprise,” says Tourism Dunedin’s Bree Jones.

“Of the increasing number of international conferences hosted by The Dunedin Centre many have been Australasian association events.”

The Dunedin Centre encompasses the grand, baroque-style Dunedin Town Hall (2000 theatre-style), Glenroy Auditorium (422 theatre-style) and complementary smaller

spaces that re-opened last year after major refurbishment.

“Hotels are also showing strong growth in occupancy which has been due to an increase in the C&I sector,” says Jones. “The region is doubling its (marketing) presence at tradeshows as more venues see the benefits and understand the importance

of this sector.”

The multi-million dollar project to transform the former Dunedin Chief Post Office, a 10 storey heritage building, into a 120-apartment hotel is underway and expected to be completed by mid 2015. The hotel will be operated by independent New Zealand company, Distinction Hotels.

Dunedin Town Hall.


CONVENTION CENTRES

For many convention centres, this year is set to be one of the most memorable with both record numbers of delegates and conventions of global significance. Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) recently hosted the very successful 20th International AIDS Conference, with some 14,000 delegates and speakers including Bill Clinton and Sir Bob Geldof guaranteeing global attention. Brisbane is also gearing up for some serious international media attention in November when the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) hosts the G20, with US President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel among the numerous heads of state touching down for the two-day face-to-face meeting.

Further north, Cairns Convention Centre is still basking in the glow of hosting the first Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) held in a regional destination in its 35 year history and snagging the AIPC Apex Award for the 2014 World’s Best Congress Centre.

“The Cairns Convention Centre’s service delivery culture of friendly tropical hospitality certainly played a big part in winning this prestigious award,” says Ross Steele, general manager at Cairns Convention Centre.

“It is judged by our clients so there is no better endorsement than event organisers who have been delivered over and above their expectation. The truly gratifying results were that the Centre was well above the measured benchmark in every category. There are also survey questions related to the destination, so the Award is validation that our city and region has some of the best meetings infrastructure in the world.”

The award crowned a great month for the Centre which posted a record month in May, the same month it hosted ATE.

“The attitude of our city, which truly recognises the value of business events is regularly praised by our clients, but they don’t usually get the media response that ATE received,” he says. “Delivering our

best month since opening was obviously a very busy time and a true test of our service culture, so to earn such outstanding feedback from our clients over this period really added to our sense of achievement.”

Cairns is also looking forward to hosting the 2018 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) World Polymer Congress “Macro18”, which is expected to attract 1500 delegates from more than 50 countries throughout the world.

“Collaboration on many levels was vital to win Macro18 for Australia,” he says. “Our well-developed partnerships with leading institutions and academics, such as Professor Stenzel from the University of New South Wales, are instrumental in attracting congresses of this calibre to Cairns. The important support provided by Tourism and Events Queensland for the bid was also invaluable in highlighting the significance our State places on hosting international meetings.”

Given the recent success, it begs the question

The only way is upConvention centres across the nation are recording some of their best figures, and with many actively targeting more international business, it seems increased investment in both venues and infrastructure is paying off, writes Sheridan Randall.


whether an expansion of the Centre is needed to capture larger events in the future.

“There have been times when we have had lost business due to the size of the Centre,” he says.

“That is not to say we don’t look for creative ways to do larger events and ATE is a prime example, where the flexibility of the Centre to take on expanded event space with seamless services such as AV, cleaning and catering was well received by everyone who attended.”

Further north, Darwin Convention Centre is gearing up for an event-packed conference season from July to November this year. Helmed by general manager Janet Hamilton, who will mark 12 months in the role in October, Darwin Convention Centre is

looking forward to welcoming scientists, researchers and academics in fields as diverse as higher education, fish biology, head and neck oncology, rural surgery, paediatric endocrine, vocational learning, and medicines management, as well as high profile brands like the Flight Centre, Bendigo Bank and Tupperware.

“Our business development team have been working very hard to ensure we have a full calendar for this busy conference season,” says Hamilton. “We will host over 9000 delegates by the end of November, which will equate to an estimated economic return to the Northern Territory of $33 million. We have just hosted Tuppware’s Dreamtime Manager Conference and we are now

getting ready to welcome Bendigo Bank and the Hospital Pharmacists of Australia Conferences. We then move on to host October business month and the Japan Joint Business Conference.”

The booming resource sector in the Northern Territory is also bringing in business.

“We are definitely seeing a lot more local and national meetings being held at the Centre which relate to resource industry,” she says. “In August we hosted The NT Resources Week, which was attended by over 1000 people and over 200 exhibitors. Every year this major conference grows and is set to grow again next year.”

The Centre is also looking at attracting more international business now that Darwin has

The new Hunter Valley Conference & Events Centre is being constructed with pylons recycled from the demolished Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre. Cut from 20m to 14m, the pylons will be placed at each corner of the new centre, which will offer the region a combined 2012 square metres of pre-function, meeting, exhibition and convention space.

Opposite page from left: Cairns Convention Centre; Bill Clinton pulls a crowd at MCEC.


1 Davey Street, Hobart, TAS 7000 P +61 (03) 6235 4535

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improved air connectivity with Asia.

“As Australia’s ‘front door to Asia’, the Territory is uniquely placed to seize emerging opportunities in the increasingly wealthy region, so we have started to focus our sales initiatives on Singapore and Kuala Lumpur now that we have direct flight access to Darwin to and from those cities,” she adds.

Alice Springs Convention Centre (ASCC) is looking to the future with the current redevelopment of adjoining Lasseters Hotel set to pay dividends in attracting more business to the Red Centre.

“The $40 million Lasseters redevelopment program plays a vital role in attracting business tourism to Alice Springs,” says Kylie Mansfield, ASCC’s sales and marketing manager.

“The new, dedicated Lasseters Hotel reception building offers exclusive group check-in desk, free wi-fi, gift shop as well as access to the new Lasseters commercial gym, spectacular swimming pool and ‘Lavish’ branded day spa.

“Rounding out this impressive redevelopment project is the addition of two more dining outlets to Lasseters suite of catering options: Tali, a spacious and comfortable 180 seat a la carte restaurant and Tempo, Lasseters funky nod to a ’60’s-style wine bar.”

The annual Alice Stampede familiarisation, held in July, provides a great way to get the message out about Alice Springs potential as a meetings destination, as well as highlighting the whole of city approach to attracting business.

“Alice Springs’ renowned collaborative approach to destination marketing and event execution is simply a reflection of a proud, passionate, regional tourism community who understand the value in working together as a team,” she says.

“Unlike larger, more generic city destinations, the economic impact of holding a conference in Alice Springs is immediate, direct and absolutely crucial to our community. While we are lucky to draw from some terrifically inspiring local CSR programs as part of our destination itinerary repertoire, the act of actually bringing an event to Alice is a CSR qualification in itself.”

Tasmania is another destination that sells itself best when visited, with delegates staying on average 2.7 days longer than in other states. Hobart captures the lion’s share of the conference market in the island state, with the Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart capitalising on its dedicated conference centre’s proximity to several nearby venues to attract larger conferences from the mainland.

“What we try and push is that we have convention centre size facilities but with a hotel service attitude,” says Andrew Best,

director of sales and marketing at Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart.

“The way the market has evolved in Hobart we are in the best place we ever have been to capture those larger bits of business that have otherwise overlooked Hobart due to a lack of infrastructure. With the development of Princes Wharf 1 and Macquarie Wharf No. 2 Cruise Terminal, we now have the supporting facilities to do the larger gigs.

“With these other venues coming on board, we now have two options for dinners for over 1000 delegates. For us it has been the

last piece in the jigsaw puzzle and with the refurbishment of the hotel as well it has meant we are able to catch more of that larger capacity business.”

With Hobart set to host a bevy of international foodie media for Restaurant Australia’s “Invite the World to Dinner” in November, Best says that Tasmania’s food and wine offering is also a huge drawcard.

“As Tasmanians the concept of food miles and localism is what we naturally do,” he adds. “We have a relationship with our seafood supplier who is across the road from us. We are finding more and more people are asking for what we call ‘a taste of Tasmania’ style reception, where people expect to have access to products such as Bruny Island Cheese and Josef Chromy Wines.”

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is another venue that takes enormous pride in its food and beverage offering, making it one of the Centre’s selling points, according

to chief executive Peter King.

“Our unique food philosophy is a key selling point but it is important that we have the accolades to substantiate this, especially when we are trying to attract international business who may have never experienced MCEC’s food offering before,” he says.

“Awards, like Royal Melbourne Fine Food, not only give our

chefs the recognition they deserve but also add a further seal of approval that has been benchmarked against some of the best. We enter a range of food awards annually to reiterate our ranking and grow our reputation.”

And what a reputation, with MCEC recording its most successful year in 2013-2014 with a record-breaking revenue of $69.9 million. The Centre delivered 1030 events for 680,955 attendees, which included 78 national and international conferences and exhibitions, with business generated by events held

“Unlike larger, more generic city destinations, the economic impact of holding a conference in Alice Springs is immediate, direct and absolutely

crucial to our community.”

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Host Venue for the G20 leaders summit 2014

BrisBanE ConvEntion & ExhiBition CEntrE

Australia’s most awarded

at MCEC worth $274,094,794 to the state economy. In the last 12 months alone, Melbourne has hosted 13 international conferences secured by its Club Melbourne Ambassadors, including AIDS 2014.

“Our Club Melbourne Ambassadors play a huge role in helping us secure and host major international conferences, which have a significant impact on our financial results,” King says.

“More importantly, their efforts also help to boost the wider Victorian economy, leave lasting legacies and bring thought leadership to Victoria. It’s important to us that we achieve a wider economic and cultural impact for the city, beyond MCEC’s gains, and our Ambassadors are vital in achieving this.”

Adelaide has been picked as the host city for Corroboree Europe from April 26-29, 2015, considered one of the world’s most

important gatherings of travel agents, with Adelaide Convention Centre chief executive Alec Gilbert saying they were “thrilled” to be hosting the event.

“We have a great history of hosting tourism and cultural events, and the Centre is a great base to discover South Australia’s diverse, world class tourism products,” he says.

Exhibitions are already booked for the new Stage one of the Adelaide Convention Centre, which is set to launch in early 2015.

“Having major conferences such as the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting and the Australian Gastroenterological Society’s 2016 annual meeting, both of which will attract over 1000 delegates, is important in ensuring the development delivers from the get-go,” he says.

The massive ongoing investment in

infrastructure around the Riverbank is also falling into place, with clients already “seeing the potential”, according to Gilbert.

“There is $8 billion worth of development happening in Adelaide at the moment,” he adds. “The Adelaide Oval has been developed, and it has been absolutely fantastic to have the Riverbank precinct come alive on game days.

“The benefits of the Riverbank precinct development won’t fully be realised until 2017, when our Eastern building development is completed, along with other developments such as the Casino and University of South Australia’s new facilities. The medical research precinct encompassing the new Royal Adelaide Hospital and the SAHMRI [South Australia Health & Medical Reseach Institute] building will be the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, with over 1000 researchers based there. The proximity of the

Left: GCEC more connected than ever. Above: Darwin Convention Centre general manager Janet Hamilton.


Centre to these world-class facilities ensures we are well-placed to host health and medical conferences in the future.”

Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) is already benefiting from the most recent investment in the city’s infrastructure with the new light rail line now connecting the Centre to an extra 27,000 accommodation rooms within an 8km radius.

“Great transport infrastructure is fundamental to the success of any major city and that benefits the Centre indirectly by opening up more accommodation and leisure options for conference delegates,” says GCCEC’s general manager, Adrienne Readings.

“Delegates have improved confidence in the destination knowing they can use a world-class tram network to easily get around. Ease of mobility is an important drawcard especially for the international conference market and being able to easily connect Broadbeach and famous Surfers Paradise in a few minutes for example, attracts more people to the already bustling and popular Broadbeach entertainment precinct.”

The Centre is hosting the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Asia-Pacific Client/Supplier Business Workshop and the 23rd International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) World Volunteer Conference this month, presenting a golden opportunity to gain extra exposure to international markets.

“The Centre has matured over the past decade and one our key areas of focus without a doubt is international business,” she says.

“The Gold Coast is certainly coming of age,

it’s vibrant and so are we and it’s without a doubt a serious business events destination. Our best strategy is to continue working with national industry bodies and regionally with partners like Gold Coast Business Events to raise our profile.”

The Gold Coast is now also officially gearing up for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

“The Commonwealth Games is also set to shine a light on the destination and on the GCCEC,” she says. “It’s a fabulous legacy for the City and we all stand to benefit from the increased exposure. How that benefits our business is still playing out but the Centre is the official media hub for the Games and the host venue for vast majority of the Netball games and also the Basketball final game.”

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre is busy preparing for the G20, with the Centre already leveraging off its expected impact.

“The initial impact of hosting the G20 is all about global positioning, profile and awareness and we have been leveraging that now for some time through our advertising and marketing activities,” says Bob O’Keeffe, BCEC’s general manager.

“The event does provide an extraordinary opportunity to demonstrate to the world the calibre and quality of the world class facilities and expertise of the Centre. The whole objective is to create a legacy which will generate major international events for Brisbane and BCEC well into the future.

“BCEC and its city convention partners, Brisbane Marketing and Tourism and Events Queensland, together with city hotels, work closely and collaboratively presenting a

unified front to great effect and we would be looking at enhancing and growing that collaboration on the back of the G20 effect, which will no doubt place Brisbane and BCEC at the very forefront of international attention and put us in the box seat and we do not intend to waste that opportunity.”

The lead up to the G20 hasn’t been quiet either, with the BCEC hosting 22 events including 134 conferences delivering 15,000 delegates to Brisbane in August and September.

“We have a strong year ahead with 120 conferences on the calendar and after confirming $156 million worth of new conferences in the last financial year,” he says. “BCEC has set a cracking pace confirming a further 25 conferences in the first two months of the new financial year.”

It may be on the smaller end of the scale but the new $4 million Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley Conference and Events Centre, in New South Wales, has already scored its first booking while still under construction. The Rotary Foundation of Australia’s “Light up Rotary” conference will take place in early 2015, with between 550 and 800 delegates set to experience the brand new facility.

“Rotary does exceptional work as an organisation, and we are thrilled they chose us as their partner for this exciting event,” says Hunter Valley Conference and Events Centre general manager Robert Coates.

“We hope it’s the start of a long partnership with them, and will be working to ensure the 2015 annual event is their most successful and enjoyable yet.”

Being the first conference centre of its size in the region, the Hunter Valley Conference and Events Centre is set to have significant economic impact to the region, as well as driving international interest to the Hunter Valley region.

“One of the key benefits to this facility is its proximity to Sydney – but that doesn’t mean it’s just Sydney businesses we’ll be welcoming,” he says. “Several interstate and international organisations have already expressed interest in booking events with us.

“In light of the development of Newcastle Airport and the expansion to accommodate international flights scheduled for completion in early 2015, we will be targeting international business from key regions that will be flying into Newcastle Airport.

“Visitors from both China and New Zealand are already key international targets for the Hunter Region, so we anticipate that interest in the area from these markets will only increase once the Hunter Valley Conference and Events Centre is open for business.”

Conference organisers planning events at the Adelaide Convention Centre can map out their use of the Stage One Centre expansion development following the launch of the iMap Interactive Floor Plan application software.


GOLD COAST

Gold Coast Business Events celebrated the official handing over of the Commonwealth Games to the city with two “Go for Gold” functions held in Sydney and Melbourne recently.

The events saw 20 bureau members, known as “Team Gold Coast”, raise a glass to the Games with an exclusive guest list of professional conference organisers,

corporate in-house event planners and association executives.

Speaking at the Sydney event, Business Events director Anna Case said the handover of the Commonwealth Games flag on Monday, August 4, when the Gold Coast officially became the custodian of the games, heralded “pretty exciting times” for the city.

“As part of the Commonwealth Games

there is going to be a lot of new investment in infrastructure coming into the city, so it’s very exciting for us,” she said.

“The light rail opened 10 days ago. It links the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre down in Broadbeach all the way through the heart of Surfers Paradise to Griffith University and Gold Coast Hospital. What it does is really open up the destination

With the handover of the Commonwealth Games taking place in Glasgow last month, Gold Coast Business Events is celebrating the countdown to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, writes Ylla Watkins.

Gold Coast ‘go for gold’


and allows anyone who is at a convention at the Centre to perhaps explore other parts of the city, stay in other accommodation and see what else there is available.”

Games venues, including Metricon Stadium, home to the Gold Coast Suns and the main venue for the games, the newly completed Aquatic Centre, and the yet to be built Cultural Centre, will all be available for offsite functions in the lead up to and after the Games. Many bureau members are also planning refurbishments to be completed in the next year or two, according to Case.

“With the ‘Go for Gold’ events we’re celebrating the fact that we do have the Games coming to the Gold Coast,” said Case. “We want to be able to tell these planners what the investment is and what the infrastructure is.

“We’re very fortunate that we’re already a very popular destination, particularly in the corporate meetings market and also incentives out of Southeast Asia and China, but you should never be complacent. It’s important for us to go out and promote what’s new and what’s happening, and to encourage events to come back to the Gold Coast again and again.”

Nick Warner, business development manager at the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, is on board with the collaborative approach to promoting the Gold Coast in the lead-up to the Games.

“It’s going to be of huge benefit not only to the industry that we work in but also the infrastructure of the region as well,” he said.

“We’re working quite closely with Gold

Coast Business Events and a lot of other suppliers to make sure we show up in force and really show anyone visiting the gold coast both pre and post event that we can handle anything they can throw at us.”

As one of the Gold Coast’s preeminent resorts, the team at the InterContinental

Sanctuary Cove is looking forward to making “the most of the opportunity hosting the Commonwealth Games will bring for the Gold Coast”.

“Hopefully we’ll be hosting some pre Games events, and even during the Games we’d like to be hosting a team or something to do with the actual games itself,” he said.

A highlight of Sydney’s Go for Gold Coast event was an inspiring question and answer session between Fox Sports commentator Adam Peacock and athletes Nikki Hudson, former captain of the Hockeyroos, and recently retired swimmer Eamon Sullivan.

“We want our planners to mix and rub shoulders with some of the elite athletes that have come through the ranks, have won gold medals and have been at the Commonwealth Games,” said Case. “And we want

them to share with the planners what their experience was like when they were competing, and what inspired them. I’m trying to give [planners] a message around inspiration and motivation, that will hopefully then motivate them to bring their events to the city.”


“As part of the Commonwealth Games there is going to be a lot of new investment in

infrastructure coming into the city, so it’s very exciting for us,”

From left: The Gold Coast from the air; Nikki Hudson, Anna Case, Eamon Sullivan and Adam Peacock; Guests mingle with the sporting stars.


ASSOCIATIONS FORUM

Capital conferenceCanberra proved a popular location for the annual Associations Forum National Conference, with delegates taking advantage of access to the nation’s seat of power, writes Sheridan Randall.

Around 400 delegates congregated at the National Convention Centre in Canberra in July, for this year’s Associations Forum National Conference. The conference began with an optional pre-conference tour of Parliament House, which was swelled by a larger than expected number of delegates keen to see where so many decisions that affect their members are made, particularly with Federal Parliament sitting.

Keynote speakers included Tony Stuart, CEO of Australia's largest association, the NRMA, economist John Daley, from the Gratten Institute, and Brendan Nelson, director of the Australian War Memorial and former Liberal Party leader, who headlined the official conference dinner held at the National Arboretum Canberra.

Unlike last year’s conference which had a strong international contingent, this year’s focused on domestic associations.

“We tapped into the fact that a lot of the Associations who need to deal with the Government are based in Canberra,” says John Peacock, Associations Forum general manager.

“We spent a lot of our time on the technical

content. We have clear topics that delegates need to know about – governance, restructuring, mergers and membership matters. They’re common topics that people want a fresh approach to and the latest thinking. They like to hear firsthand from people that have done it and been through

change correctives, on top of reading the theory, so that they can ask questions and get immediate feedback. Because Associations are non-competitive they are very willing to share their pros and cons.”

One of the issues facing Associations is the

need to appeal to Gen Y, with the National Conference making sure both its content and the delivery of that content was presented in a way which appealed to that demographic.

“People are looking to engage the younger generation and make sure they have relevant and refreshed offerings,” he says.

“Associations are looking at more use of online delivery for meetings, such as webinars. We streamed some of the sessions, which is a relatively new initiative.”

This year’s National Conference was one of their most successful to date, with the Association Forum receiving “tremendous feedback this year, with people very happy with Canberra as a destination”.

Among the exhibitors was the Altogether Perfect team from the

Newcastle Convention Bureau, Destination Port Stephens and the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association, who debuted their stand in Canberra.

Georgia Lazzari, major tourism and event developer for the Newcastle Convention Bureau, says that the Associations market

“This combination of knowledge, culture and influence, along with a wide variety of quality hotels and meeting venues

makes Canberra a great fit for Association conferences.”

Panel discussions and networking were all on the

cards at the Associations Forum National Conference.


sydneyexhibitioncentre.com.au

“unique destinational experiences”.

“This can be as simple as hosting educational sessions in venues with a difference and of significance to the destination, to broader community engagement and connectivity by hosting public forums around the educational content,” she says.

“Connecting with, and making a difference, in local communities is also becoming increasingly important as we see a shift back to the fundamental basics of relationship development, consequently and somewhat refreshingly event legacies are also ranking high on the agenda.”

The Sunshine Coast was also on display, with Tiffany Beal, business events executive for Business Events Sunshine Coast, saying “the Associations conference market brings consistent, quality business to the Sunshine Coast region”.

“More importantly, Association events also raise the opportunity for the region to highlight local industry and align with local government core pillars,” she says.

“We have found that Associations often don’t use PCOs so are looking to the convention bureau and the venue to offer support, destinational knowledge and advice.”

Auckland was one of the few international destinations showing at the conference, with

Anna Hayward, manager of the Auckland Convention Bureau, saying they are targeting Associations that fit with New Zealand’s industry sectors, as part of the new Auckland Business Event Plan.

“We will soon be hiring a full time Australian-based ACB staff member who will be on the ground and able to target and assist Australian-based Associations,” she says.

Canberra Convention Bureau chief executive Robyn Hendry says that the National Conference “gave Canberra the opportunity acknowledge the good work Associations do for their membership base as well as the broader community”.

“We displayed flags promoting the conference along Commonwealth Avenue and we also arranged a private tour of Parliament House where delegates had an opportunity to hear from a former political advisor on how to use the press gallery to promote their agendas,” she says.

“As the national capital, Canberra has an abundance of research and learning institution, national attractions and political weight. This combination of knowledge, culture and influence, along with a wide variety of quality hotels and meeting venues makes Canberra a great fit for Association conferences.”

“forms a significant portion of the business events mix in the Greater Hunter, particularly in Newcastle”.

“Newcastle has traditionally been viewed as the education hub of the region with access to The University of Newcastle, John Hunter Hospital and Hunter Medical Research Institute to name a few,” she says.

“The Altogether Perfect campaign aims to increase the awareness of the Newcastle, Hunter Valley and Port Stephens region as a destination of choice for state, national and smaller sized international Associations as well as highlighting the potential synergies with regional sectors including health, education, tourism, fisheries, agriculture and mining.”

With the Altogether Perfect team presenting themselves as a one-stop-shop for event organisers looking at the region, Lazzari says that many delegates were looking for

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INSPIRE EX

The waterproof ponchos were a much needed freebie being given out at the door, as the heavens opened on the first day of this year’s Inspire Ex, which was held on August 18-19 at Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island. Some buyers braved the ferries, while others took advantage of the free buses from the CBD, but whichever way they came they were not disappointed, with this year’s show highlights including stunning exhibitor stands, an interactive Taste Kitchen, a Tech Hub offering technology advice, a Show Me How interactive demonstration area showcasing different event theming and a range of industry speakers headlined by US events guru John Daly (see story, page 11).

“We wanted to have a platform where they [exhibitors] could have a real business to business engagement [with buyers] with the opportunity for hands on where they can touch, feel, taste and see the products but also have the face time,” says Inspire EX event director Pascal Ibrahim.

“Nothing replaces face to face where you can sit down with your

client and find out what they want, what they are asking for and understand their business and their needs. This is what we want Inspire EX to be. A show that inspires them to think outside the box. Having that one to one engagement with the supplier direct to get the answers to what they are really looking for.”

Finding the right mix of buyers and exhibitors was a priority for the Inspire Ex team, with exhibitors invited for a series of lunches through the year to “take them on the journey with us”.

“We used those [lunches] as an opportunity to engage with them, and let them know what we are doing with our marketing, our VIP Hosted Buyer Program, what type of visitors we are attracting and what type of exhibitors we trying

to get on board,” says Ibrahim.

“We also used it as an opportunity to say to them ‘you need to take time and come to the show if you are the decision maker, don’t just send your people or your colleagues. Come to the show because you

“Nothing replaces face to face where you can sit down with

your client and find out what they want, what they are asking

for and understand their business and their needs.”

Facing up to businessBuyers at last month’s Inspire Ex trade show were not dampened by the worst weather Sydney could throw at them, braving the storm to look, learn and above all network with their peers, writes Sheridan Randall.

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will use it as an opportunity to actually meet face to face with your potential client and explain to them how you can help them’. I think a lot of them took that on board and are here, which is great.”

A select group of around 150 VIP Hosted Buyers, people that “own the budget or own the decision to buy events”, according to Ibrahim, got to experience a full day of activities both prior and during the show.

Split into groups on the Sunday before the show the VIP Hosted Buyers experienced team building at Sydney Cricket Ground, climbing the Harbour Bridge with BridgeClimb Sydney, lunch at Trippas White Group’s newly refurbished venue at the top of the Sydney Tower and cocktails at Luna Park, before coming together for a spectacular dinner on board MV Epicure.

The next day they were treated to a special lunch held on the show floor, which was sponsored by Altogether Perfect, which showcased the best food, wine and coffee of the Hunter Valley, Port Stephens and Newcastle, and a post-show gala dinner at Sydney Town Hall.

“It’s not so much the activities, but it is the ability to be in the same place as your peers, to network, that’s the hard part because they are all busy doing different things,” says Ibrahim. “So the opportunity to be able to come and sit down with someone, talk about they’re doing, maybe learn from their mistakes or copy something they have done. Give them something they couldn’t get themselves quite easily.”

Clockwise from left: The Taste Kitchen; The gala dinner at Sydney Town Hall; Australian Turf Club; Altogether Perfect; Pan Pacific Hotel Groups.


Singapore on show

EVENT REPORT

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) recently held the first of two “MasterMICE” events in Sydney in conjunction with six of its stakeholders.

Joining the bureau were representatives from Marina Bay Sands, Pan Pacific Singapore, Tour East, Destination Asia, InterContinental Singapore and The Traveller DMC.

The “old school games night”-themed event saw around 70 business events planners brave inclement weather to attend a cocktail-style function at Bennelong at Sydney Opera House, where they were able to chat with the suppliers while trying their hand at games including fuze ball, putt-

putt golf, slot car racing and movie trivia. Catering was provided by Aria Catering, with guests treated to canapés including cured salmon and green tea noodle nori roll, mushroom and truffle arancini balls, pulled pork panini with smoked mozzarella and tomato and poached chicken with lemon, braised fennel, almonds and crispy onions.

Welcoming the event organisers, Sharon Lam, area director Oceania of STB, outlined the advantages of holding an event in Singapore, which was recently named Asia’s Top Convention City by the International Congress and Convention Association for the 12th consecutive year, including its central location to

Asia, excellent transport links, first-rate infrastructure and good track record running large-scale events of all kinds.

Lam also focused on Singapore’s one-of-a-kind venues, wide variety of different experiences, action-packed schedule of community events for groups to experience, and quality support for organisers, backed by the bureau’s partners.

“Singapore has a lot to offer but we find that a lot of Australian groups and companies don’t know that,” she said. “We want to work closely with organisers to develop bespoke experiences that showcase Singapore as having really authentic,

One of Asia’s most popular destinations for business events, Singapore still has plenty of surprises in store, as events planners in Sydney and Melbourne found out recently, writes Ylla Watkins.

Above: Marina Bay Sands. Left and opposite page: Conference organisers learn more about Singapore's business events offerings.



Royal Randwick, Rosehill Gardens, Canterbury Park and Warwick Farm are sure to impress event organisers and delegates with the spectacular surrounds of these unique venues and international cuisine prepared by award-winning kitchens. With ample space and free parking at each venue, the Australian Turf Club is the perfect choice for your next corporate or social event.

Spectacular facilities across Sydney, ideal for every occasion

A UNIQUE VENUE COLLECTION

Queen Elizabeth II Grandstand at Royal Randwick

Grand Pavilion Level 1, Rosehill GardensExterior Grand Pavilion, Rosehill Gardens

Royal Randwick’s Spectacular Ballroom

For bookings and enquiries P | 1300 729 668 E | [email protected] australianturfclub.com.au

different experiences.”

One of Singapore’s latest attractions is Gardens by the Bay, which Lam says offers not only plant varieties from around the world but meetings spaces that are “inspiring and beautiful to just be around”.

“Over in Sentosa the Marine Life Park also has the SEA Aquarium which offers delegates a space underneath the waters next to a huge fish tank full of sea life,” she said. “You can also book up spaces like Food Street in Chinatown or the Singapore Food Trail at the Singapore Flyer to organise a special networking function, themed in the 1970s for example.

“Even with existing products such as hotels and spaces, there are always new and innovative ways we can work with groups.”

Following on from the success of this year’s events – a second event was also held at Eureka 89 in Southbank, Melbourne – STB plans to run further MasterMICE events in the future, according to Lam.

“We want to engage with Australian business event organisers and corporate companies to come and learn about Singapore and what our partners can bring to the table to help you organise a successful event in Singapore,” she said.


News in brief

VENUE UPDATE

Ballroom refurbishmentThe Menzies Sydney has launched its new look Australia Ballroom, following a refurbishment

that combines new paintwork, carpet, furnishing and lighting while still retaining its historical elegant charm. The refurbishment also features the installation of Fairchild’s SeeMe Now e-concierge tablet, which allows event organisers to easily communicate requirements to the hotel staff with the touch of a button.

All aboard in SydneyAnchored floating venue Dockside Pavilion Darling Harbour offers an on-water venue

with a difference. Designed by Warwick Bell from Fabric Structure Systems in Auckland, who famously created The Cloud for the New Zealand Rugby World Cup, the structure measures 90m long, 26.5m wide and 9.1m high. With a capacity of up to 1440 guests seated and 2000 standing, the venue can be used for a range of large events.

City Express coming soonInterContinental Hotels Group and international investment group Pro-Invest will

open a 226-room Holiday Inn Express hotel in Brisbane’s Spring Hill. Located near Brisbane’s CBD, the hotel will be close to the city’s business, retail, entertainment and leisure hubs, making ideal for both business and leisure travellers. The hotel will have two meeting rooms, on-site parking spaces and a generous breakfast area.

Ayana Resort and Spa in Bali has launched Sky, a spectacular 180-degree ocean-front venue for corporate functions and grand events, in an exclusively private cliff-top locations. At 7500sqm, Sky has the capacity to cater for up to 1000 guests for a standing reception. Event organisers can also enjoy flexibility in set-up

and layout for both small and large events with two outdoor reception lawns at the cliff-edge with total capacity for 500 people seated round-table style, the Sky deck on the cliff-edge and amphitheater for performances, both with capacity of 80 people seated.

Cliff hanger at Ayana Resort and Spa


Island paradise opens for meetingsStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has announced the opening of

Sheraton New Caledonia Deva Resort & Spa. The 180-room resort offers 558sqm of naturally-lit meetings space, which divides into a flexible ballroom and is complemented by indoor and outdoor pre-function areas and state-of-the-art meetings technology, with a dedicated conference and events team on hand.

Water views for Fenix EventsFollowing the successful launch of event space “The River Terrace” in

November 2013, Fenix Events is launching its newest event space at its Richmond location in October this year. The new space will feature panoramic water views over the Yarra River holding up to 220 guests banquet style or 300 guests cocktail style, ideal for corporate events. It also has the ability to be divided, to cater for smaller numbers such as private events.

DoubleTree opens in CairnsHilton Worldwide is continuing its expansion in Australia with

DoubleTree by Hilton Cairns, set to open on October 1, 2014. The new 237 room hotel is located at a prime waterfront location. DoubleTree by Hilton Cairns will feature a newly refurbished meeting and event space with the capacity for up to 160 theatre style, a 24-hour business centre and complimentary parking.

Twin hotels for Brisbane airportA new Pullman and ibis hotel will be built at Brisbane Airport’s Domestic Terminal Precinct as part of a new $150 million development project, adjoining the Brisbane Airport Conference & Meeting Centre. Catering for up to 600 people, the 735sqm Brisbane Airport Conference & Meeting Centre (the hotels’ joint central conference, meeting and event space) includes a 300 seat pillar-less ballroom, eight medium to large conference rooms and four executive boardrooms. Other facilities include an open-air terrace breakout area, a business centre and cloakroom. Construction is set to commence on February 1, 2015, for an expected opening on November 1, 2016.

From here to EternitySydney’s new Eternity Playhouse offers an intimate, corporate events venue. The beautifully restored and renovated 200 seat state-of-the-art theatre is ideal for theatre-style presentations and seminars, staff training sessions, annual general meetings, presentations, fashion shows and corporate entertaining. The events venue comes fully equipped with the latest audio visual and lighting equipment. The theatre’s lobby can also be used for pre and post event networking for up to 250 guests, or the two spaces can be hired as a single space with catering packages and bar facilities on hand.


PROFILE

More than any other nationality, Australians love to cruise, with the local market growing 20 per cent on average every year for the past 11 years. According to figures compiled by peak industry body Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia, more than 600 cruise ship visits by 36 ships are scheduled for ports around the country over the coming summer cruising season.

A key player in the Australian market is family-owned luxury cruise line Silversea Cruises, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, which has a fleet of eight ships plying routes throughout the world.

Heading up the company in Australia is general manager and director of sales and marketing Karen Christensen (pictured above), who has led the growth of the Australasian market and positioned it as a key sector in the company’s overall business strategy. Since joining the company in 2006, Christensen has seen Silverseas’ Asia Pacific team grow from six to 21, and further expansion is planned for 2014.

While the FIT market is flourishing, incentive and charter business is an increasingly important part of the company’s business, according to Christensen.

“Incentives and charters are a significant part of our business, and we definitely

see the market growing,” she says. “I think events organisers are starting to realise not only the value proposition that cruising provides, but also the ease of looking after guests that comes with a cruise product rather than trying to move people around with land-based options.”

Demand for the company’s smaller ships, Cloud Wind, Silver Cloud and Expedition ships, is high, she adds.

“For 2015, I have four ship charters going out of Australia and two already on the books for 2016,” she said. “Silver Cloud has been chartered globally 13 times this year.

“Both Cloud and Wind are the same size; they can accommodate up to 296 guests, which is the average size for a conference or incentive piece of business to date. And they’re small enough to go wherever the charterer wants to take it, which is also part of their popularity.”

Charter fees are generally calculated on an all-inclusive basis, with groups receiving the same core experience offered FIT travellers, although there is plenty of flexibility to build in bespoke experiences.

“If the bespoke offerings are not too far outside of what we’re already offering – tweaking the style of entertainment they want, for example, there more than likely won’t be an additional cost. However if the

client wanted to raise a car and put it on the desk, for example, then yes, there would be a cost for the logistics of getting that car on board.”

Destinations such as the Mediterranean and Caribbean are popular; however clients are able to determine the route a charter ship takes, within certain limitations relating to existing schedules and ports of call.

Another option is to place an incentive group on board one of Silversea’s regular cruises. Groups don’t get the same complete flexibility as with a charter, however with one member of staff to every one and a half guests, “there is a lot that can be done very quickly and very efficiently to enhance the onboard experience”.

When there is work to be done, there are spaces on-board all of the ships that can seat the whole group for presentations, as well as areas for break outs. The all-suite accommodation means that groups can be accommodated in comparable quarters (the only difference is the location of board), meaning no one is disadvantaged.

“Once a ground operator or person who is looking after the incentive gets used to the ease of organising an event with us they tend to come back again,” says Christensen.

All at sea

View slideshow in the CIM iPad app.

Since joining Silversea Cruises in 2006, Karen Christensen has seen the incentive and charter cruise market grow dramatically, discovers Ylla Watkins.


MEETING PEOPLE

David Addison joins the Sane Event Group leadership team to take up the role of director of strategic development and corporate services. Addison has a wealth of experience having spent 30 years in the events industry, most recently at MCI and previously as founder and managing director of Avanti Events and Pharma Events.

Accor Hotels has announced the role swap of Peter Richardson as the new general manager of Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort and James Murphy, now general manager of Mercure Townsville. Richardson has been general manager of Mercure Townsville since 2005, while Murphy spent 12 years as general manager at Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort.

Kakadu Tourism has appointed Ruth Watson as sales and marketing manager. Watson has previously held roles for a variety of aviation and tourism businesses, including Adventure Tours Australia and WayOut Back Safaris.

RX Australia has announced the promotion of Brian Thomas to the role of managing director. He joined RX Australia in 1994 and through his time has held the positions of finance director, commercial director and event portfolio management.

Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre has appointed Gillian Taylor to the role of director of business development.

Taylor joins the centre from the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau and Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, where she has worked for the past eight years.

Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa has announced the appointment of Jens Frank-Mikkelsen as director of business development.

Most recently, he was director of business development at Hilton Copenhagen Airport Denmark, and brings 13 years of experience to the role.

SilverNeedle Hospitality has appointed Russell Durnell as general manager of Next Hotel Brisbane. Durnell brings

20 years of experience across several senior positions in operations, brand and marketing, industry engagement, sales and corporate relations, in establishments such as Sydney’s W Hotel, Sheraton on the Park, and The Langham in Melbourne.

Tracy Bass has joined Sydney Exhibition Centre at Glebe Island as communications manager. Bass brings a strong background in managing

integrated communications programs across commercial and government organisations. Prior to joining the centre, she was part of the Business Events Sydney team.

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre has announced the appointment of Helen Fairclough as director of people and

culture. Fairclough returns to the venue after nine years with Chevron, in London and San Francisco.

Naomi Purvis has joined the imago team as event services manager. Purvis has an events industry background, having

previously worked at Universal WorldEvents (now Ashfield Meetings and Events), plus experience in the pharmaceutical sector.

Frasers Hospitality Australia has announced several appointments across their properties, with Mariusz Tymosiewicz

(pictured) as general manager and Tonia Kreft as director of sales and marketing of Capri by Fraser Brisbane, set to open in 2015. Charlie Turnbull joins Fraser Suites Perth as their new director of sales and marketing.

Wayne Castle has joined CWT Meetings & Events, Australia and New Zealand as director. Castle brings more than 25 years experience

managing and directing events with companies such as Total Concept Exhibitions & Events, Special Events Management and Haymarket IPMG. He joins CWT from the Australian Water Association, where he was the national commercial manager.

SkyCity Auckland Convention Centre has announced several new roles; Tania Barnes (pictured) joins the company

as the Australian sales manager; Tanya Dustin as sales manager – government and associations; and Jessica Vandy as business development manager.


PCO ASSOCIATION

There’s no denying that the conference industry has huge growth potential, with one study estimating that conventions and events are expected to grow by 44 per cent by 2020, far beyond the average projected growth of other industries.

The theme of destinational connectivity is therefore increasingly important for those working in the industry, especially in Australia and New Zealand, as we are somewhat isolated from other countries.

For those doing business around the world it is crucial that airlines are able to offer route connections to the right destinations.

Airbus research shows that air traffic has doubled every 15 years in the past and the forecast is that it will double again in the next 15.

The aviation industry is, however, a volatile one, at the mercy of certain uncontrollable factors such as fuel prices, airport landing fees, natural disasters and the always unpredictable weather.

The GFC certainly slowed demand for air travel. It has since bounced back, highlighting the great value people around the world place on their ability to fly – be it for business or for leisure.

Historically in Australia we’ve seen our geographic location as a disadvantage but nothing could now be further from the truth.

We are in a great position and perfectly located to access the rapidly rising middle class across the Pacific Rim – be it in the Americas, Asia or Australasia – with a truly generational shift from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

The majority of our top inbound markets are in the Pacific Rim. In both New Zealand and Australia, China is our second largest source market of international visitors.

Almost one million Chinese visited New Zealand and Australia in the past 12 months,

with forecasts for this number to more than double in the next five years. More interestingly the Chinese themselves expect outbound travel to increase five-fold.

An aviation trend which may surprise many people is an overall decline in the price of airfares. Despite many costs to airlines rising, ticket prices have not grown and there’s little doubt that the cost of fares nowadays has made it possible for travellers from all corners of the world to fly.

According to data from Airlines for America, domestic US fares (including fees) have reduced by 40 per cent since the 1980s. This decline has not just been in the US; for example, Air New Zealand fares on all Queenstown routes are down more than 20 per cent in the last five years.

I was with Air New Zealand for more than four decades and I saw plenty of change in the industry during that time. I’ve seen fares drop, global connectivity improve tenfold and incredible advances in aircraft manufacturing.

However, the customer has always been at the heart of change, with the industry focused on making the air travel experience easier.

Just as Air New Zealand has invested heavily in the customer experience (including lounges) and its fleet to protect the future of the business it’s been encouraging to see an increased investment in convention/conference infrastructure. There has been ongoing and significant investment in conference infrastructure in Australia, with New Zealand finally catching up with demand for such facilities.

A NZ$402 million convention centre will be built in Auckland by 2018 and has already attracted more than 50 enquiries for convention bookings and exhibitions attracting up to 90,000 delegates.

This increased investment is a clear signal

Australia and New Zealand are set to benefit from a highly competitive aviation industry and greater demand for air travel from Asia, writes Norm Thompson.

Global aviation trends and outlook

as to the value New Zealand places on the conventions market – particularly from Australia.

Australia is New Zealand’s biggest convention market and it’s a similar story in Australia with more than 37,500 New Zealand convention arrivals in 2013.

I believe our region, especially Australia, has much to offer visitors – both business and leisure travellers.

The UN World Tourism Organisation’s most recent report found, for the second year running, that Asia and the Pacific is the fastest growing visitor region. Visitor arrivals in 2013 increased 6 per cent – equivalent to 14 million more international tourist arrivals than in the previous year.

The region appears to be a focus for travel industry growth with the high growth rate driven by increasing wealth in the middle classes.

It is projected that the Asia Pacific region will have the largest increase in inbound tourism through to 2030 and a 30 per cent global market share – the only region with an increasing market share through to 2030!

This provides both the conventions sector and airlines with positive opportunities in the coming year. I’m certainly excited about the future growth prospects of this important and significant segment.

Norm Thompson was a speaker at the PCO Conference 2013.


Having spent the last decade changing the structure of our economy to “make room for the minerals boom,” Australia now needs to shift back. And that will shape our business environment.

The shift last decade was driven by the rise in the Australian dollar – away from export and import-competing industries, allowing more resources to be deployed to service high levels of mining investment. The next shift will again be driven by the currency, this time back towards the trade-exposed industries, not just manufacturing and agriculture, but also mining, tourism, education and business services.

The economics of different industries will be very different in five years time.

My fear is that the fall in the dollar will be too little too late, delaying the shift back and the recovery in non-mining business investment. That will keep growth weak for some time.

Meanwhile, Australia faces a “competitiveness gap” that is far too big to eliminate by cost cutting, initiatives on manning practices or wage restraint.

Certainly, our wages are too high. Not domestically, but compared with overseas wages. And that determines our price structure relative to overseas. That’s why we are losing industry.

The real problem is that the dollar is still too high.

Australia’s competitiveness gap

PCO ASSOCIATION NEWSRegister nowRegistrations are open online at pco.asn.au/conference.html for the 2014 conference and exhibition, which will be held in Canberra from November 30 – December 2.

Peter Sugg, PCO conference chair, says this year's conference program is taking shape.

“We have already confirmed 20 presenters and 55 of the 60 exhibition booths have sold,” he said.

For enquiries, contact Jillian Masters, administration and accreditation manager, [email protected] or 0435 373 476.

New initiativesThe addition of a number of new initiatives to the Business Partner Program this year has resulted in a significant increase in organisations supporting the Association.

Maxine Tod, director of business partnerships, says the increase (to 30 business partners) is a sign organisations are recognising the value of engaging with the conference and events sector.

The Program is available to organisations with an interest in, or who supply, the conference and events sector.

The Program has been developed to facilitate engagement between professional conference organisers and the greater conference, meetings, and events community.

For further details, contact Tod on [email protected] or 0435 103 912.

A high Australian dollar and declining resources sector are set to fan headwinds in the economy over the short term, writes Frank Gelber.

A lower dollar would immediately redress competitiveness. But the level of the currency is not ours to choose. The dollar rose as commodity prices took off in the resources boom, tilting the economy towards servicing resources investment. Now, as resources investment declines, we’ll have to change back.

There has been a cost to the mining boom. It was masked by strong job creation in the upswing. But now, with the prospect of a long, but orderly, decline in resources investment, the economy will have to redeploy resources away back towards the balanced growth we had before the boom. We’ll still see strong growth in resources production. But we employ a lot more people in the construction phase than the operational phase of projects. With the prospect of weak growth and weaker employment growth, we’ll feel the aftermath much more than the boom.

Already, growth has fallen from 3.5 per cent a few years ago to 2.5 per cent now. That’s despite a strong recovery in residential building. And it’s before the decline in resources investment starts in earnest. Apart from mining, the economy remains weak – we still haven’t recovered from the effects of the GFC. Households are saving; businesses and governments are cutting costs and deferring investment.

There is little chance of recession, with growth underpinned by strong growth in mining production and the recovery in

residential building. But growth will remain weak this year and next.

Two major shifts are in prospect. Firstly, further falls in the still too high Australian dollar will underwrite a shift back towards the trade-exposed industries currently under severe competitive pressure. Secondly, apart from mining, business investment remains extremely weak. It will recover. But capacity utilisation will need to tighten before that happens. We think that’s still two years away.

Our fear is that the fall in the dollar will be too little, too late – with further loss of industry causing further damage, delaying the structural change required to rebalance the economy. In any case, structural change will be difficult, involving major shifts by industry and by region.

We think it’ll take two years to get the dollar down to US$0.80. And that won’t be enough to fully underwrite the structural change required.

Medium term, I’m comfortable that we can get back to balanced growth. Even if the dollar doesn’t fall enough, improved competitiveness plus the delayed recovery in non-mining business investment will boost growth, underwriting a robust second half of this decade.

Frank Gelber is the chief economist at BIS Shrapnel and a consultant to the PCO Association.

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