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Merivale has recently opened a new private dining space on level four of the Ivy complex, which is ideal for corporate groups. The dining space can seat 22 and also features an area perfect for pre-dinner cocktails. Located on the same level as Justin Hemmes’ office, this space is considered the pinnacle for dining at the Ivy and it’s the first year that it will be available for Christmas events.
If the party you’re planning is for a big group, fear not because the Ivy has a range of spaces perfect for momentous merriment. And if you’re not familiar with Justin Hemmes’ entertainment extravaganza, the property includes two separate buildings with a total of 18 different event spaces that include restaurants, bars and even a private penthouse. And this vast selection can cater for groups from 10 to more than 500. One of the Ivy’s biggest spaces dedicated to large-scale events is its ballroom. The space features an audacious black and white zebra print carpet and spectacular chandeliers, and is a space guaranteed to add some oomph to your next Christmas party.
And just to make the selection even harder, Merivale also own another eight venues dotted around the city including the Establishment, Hotel CBD, Slip Inn, Angel Hotel, Wynyard Hotel, The Grand, Lotus at Potts Point.
There’s even more good Merivale news, with the group taking over The Beresford at the end of May. Mr Hemmes purchased the venue for $14.7 million at auction, taking total Merivale properties to nine. Located in trendy Surry Hills, the property was renovated two years ago by its previous owner and has a few fresh spaces ideal for events. The Beresford offers the perfect backdrop for Christmas parties especially for the discerning client who’s keen on splashing out on special cocktails and gourmet grub. The Trattoria and Lounge Bar offers a relaxed Italian-style lunch and dinner menu, and has enough room for 120 seated and 200 standing. There’s also a generously-sized bar inside and the beer garden provides the perfect summer party backdrop to end the year with a bang.
For more information go to www.merivale.com.au.
 In the spirit of Christmas why not get your group together for some fun team-building.
Is there someone in your team who’s become a bit isolated? Need to re-group (literally)? Well the Christmas season is the perfect time to incorporate some team-building into festive celebrations, and we’ve found a few companies who’ll help you do just that.
Are you sick of organising the same Christmas party every year? What about organising an event where your group can learn to make some healthy Christmas fare. Victors Food can create a unique foodie event, where your group can team-build and pick up some festive culinary tips along the way.
And to make your event as easy as possible, Victors Food can come to you! Whether it’s in a conference room or your office boardroom, Victor’s team will have the chopping boards and burners working in no time!
Specialising in events that incorporate organic and fairtrade produce and ingredients, your team will not only be picking up some skills noteworthy of a true master chef, they will also be eating the healthiest of foods.
For more information go to www.victorsfood.com.au.
Renowned for creating team-building events with an element of surprise, Almost Famous will put the fun back into your next event. Almost Famous specialise in breaking down barriers, uniting teams with fresh energy and enthusiasm, all through the magic of music. Sit back and watch your group become a production and talent team and create their own music extravaganza.
Almost Famous is made up of professional musicians from groups like Mondo Rock and The Shania Twain Band and together have a host of industry experience. Almost Famous coach your team through the whole production process and have successfully bonded teams from Microsoft who arrived at a conference mostly as anonymous strangers and left as a unified and motivated group. Microsoft’s aim was to use the team-building exercise as an ice-breaker and the result proved more than just a way to get to know each other. Microsoft team members from around the world worked together to create their own live rock concert. So if you’re looking for a fun and musical twist to your next team-building event look no further than Almost Famous who will be able to reinvigorate, motivate and inspire your team through the power of music.
For more information go to www.almost-famous.biz.
Looking for something a little bit different for this year’s festive shindig? Well you’re in luck friendly event planner because we’ve tracked down a few unique spaces that are guaranteed to make your event memorable.
As the new kids on the block in Melbourne, this swanky hotel brand is operating hotels and penthouses ideal for unique events. The latest edition to the portfolio is an imaginatively designed hotel named after artist Charles Blackman. The Blackman is the third Art Series Hotel and is set to open in August 2010, and will offer two restaurants and four event spaces ideal for corporate groups. Located on St Kilda Road behind the historic Airlie Manson, the property is ideal for corporate travellers and long stay residents. The hotel includes 209 suites and a spectacular foyer that will feature original work from the Alice in Wonderland series. The rooms will include a mixture of king and queen suites with a combination of large terraces and balconies with sweeping Melbourne views. And corporate groups will love the property’s two penthouses which are perched high above Melbourne’s cityscape and offer the ultimate in lavish luxury for events.
The property’s artistic theme will be carried throughout the hotel and include an in-house art curator, art channel, and art library in every suite, in line with the Art Series Hotel’s trademark style. Each suite will also feature a gourmet kitchen, state-of-the-art LCD screens, and ipod docking stations, in addition to all of the amenities expected from a five-star hotel.
The Blackman is the third concept hotel by Melbourne brainchild Will Deague, who opened the first Art Series Hotel, the Cullen in November 2009. This property has been well received and was one of only two Australian properties listed in the US Conde Nast Traveler’s 2010 hot list. The group’s second property, The Olsen opened in March 2010 and is considered the flagship hotel.
For more information go to www.artserieshotels.com.au.
 Recognised at this year’s MEA National Awards as best specialty venue, Red Scooter offer a selection of unique spaces that are ideal for festive events. With three spaces perfect for a range of corporate events, and two that can be combined into one large space, Red Scooter can cater for groups ranging from 30 to 400. The Hamilton Room is a combination of the Dakota Room and the Madisson Room, and is the venue’s largest space. This room can seat 330 or 297 with a dance floor, 400 cocktail-style and 255 theatre-style. The team at Red Scooter are experts in events and regularly host gala dinners, breakfast and lunch functions, meetings and charity dinners. And their services include event co-ordination, entertainment, catering, audio-visual and lighting, as well as theming and décor.
For more information go to www.redscooter.com.au.
Tucked away in a secluded laneway off the always busy and bustling George Street, Grasshopper Eating House and Bar is one of the most recent small venues to pop up in Sydney. The Melbourne-style bar opened in May, and the space offers an eclectic option for corporate events. The venue can accommodate groups of 40 on its lower level and 30 upstairs in the restaurant, which features an open kitchen. This exquisitely quirky space features an interesting décor of vintage mismatched furniture and serves a selection of uniquely ‘Grasshopper’ cocktails in tall honey jars. The simple menu includes some French bistro classics like steak au poivre as well as a decadent dessert menu and generous cheese selection. Grasshopper Eating House and Bar was created by the brainchilds who opened Seven Metre Bar during City of Sydney’s Laneway Art in 2009.
For more information go to www.thegrasshopper.com.au.
So you’ve found the perfect venue, now what? The theming of course! Another important step in ensuring your event is a complete success and why not go crazy with the décor?
To make your life easier Backdrops Fantastic has devised a genius way for corporate event planners and professional conference organisers to choose theming for any event. With an online theming tool, organisers can choose everything from backdrops to table settings with an easy click of a mouse! And in no time you’ll be able to see if those colours clash or if you’ve just found the right combination for a drop dead gorgeous event.
Backdrops Fantastic’s Virtual Events Studio is a quick, easy and free service, and is an effortless way for organisers to present theming options to their clients, co-workers or committee members.
A mock-up room can be themed in a matter of minutes, and users can choose from a range of theme categories from an African setting to a winter wonderland. And there’s a rainbow of colours available for co-ordinating table linen, chair covers, and drapes.
To create your own one-of-a-kind themed event head to Backdrop Fantastic’s online studio.
For more information go to www.backdrops.com.au.
The experts in creating inspirational themes, Staging Connections has a team of stylists who have mastered the art of Christmas party theming and like to push the boundaries to create unique and memorable events.
Each year the Staging Connections’ style team create a range of themes that can be applied to a festive event or adapted for a completely one-of-a-kind Christmas function. Whether your client’s requested a white Christmas theme or something more classic, Staging Connections has a wide range of props and accessories as well as multimedia and lighting effects to transform any space.
And according to the Staging Connections experts, the key trends for Christmas 2010 events include black with silver or crystal embellishments in the form of sparkling crystal candelabras and wrought iron. And for something that screams summer, don’t look past lime green and floral palettes with a sprinkle of petals.
For a fun and hassle free event that’s bound to leave a long lasting impression on your guests be sure to contact Staging Connections. For more information go to www.stagingconnections.com.
 
For a one-stop-shop for an exciting end-of-year event, look no further than Village Roadshow Theme Parks. Collectively the Village Roadshow Theme Parks has a host of properties ideal for corporate groups, including Warner Bros. Movie World, Wet’n’Wild Water World, Sea World Resort, the Australian Outback Spectacular and Paradise Country. And within each of these venues is a host of possibilities for events including Hollywood themed cocktail parties at Movie World or dinner with dolphins at Sea World’s Dolphin Cove.
Village Roadshow Theme Parks manager for corporate events and direct sales, Nicole Pender said the diverse range of venues means there’s a level of versatility for corporate groups of any size.
“Our flexibility allows us to cater to small-scale events, such as elegant, intimate gatherings, right up to dazzling large-scale gala dinners and cocktail functions,” she said.
Ms Pender said the size is unparalleled for groups with theme parks that cater for cocktail parties for more than 5000 guests, as well as offering stadium seating for 2500, presentation theatres for 400 and function rooms for groups of 50 to 400.
For more information go to www.myfun.com.au.
With a few locations in Sydney and Melbourne, there’s no excuse not to treat your team to some fun and frivolity with Kingpin. Each venue offers state-of-the-art tenpin bowling lanes, M9 laser skirmish, interactive games, pool tables and private lounge areas that can be fully catered. Kingpin provide the perfect fun backdrop for your delegates to let their hair down and celebrate the end of another busy year. There’s also the option of incorporating a team-building exercise into your event with team show-downs in the M9 Laser skirmish rooms or just let the competition begin in the tenpin bowling lanes!
And getting your group there will be easy with Kingpin, conveniently located in Sydney’s Darling Harbour, Richmond, and Melbourne’s Crown Entertainment Complex. The hardest part will be getting everyone to leave.
Kingpin is offering Christmas packages that can be designed to include a game of Kingpin Bowling or M9 laser skirmish, a gourmet menu of canapés and welcome drinks.
For more information go to www.kingpinbowling.com.au.
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