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Recent cancellations of meetings, particularly in the United States during the GFC, has probably had more of a negative impact on company bottom lines than the cost of the actual event. And that’s not my opinion.
The Return on Investment of U.S. Business Travel study commissioned by the US Travel Association and undertaken by Oxford Economics determined that for every dollar spent on business travel (including meetings, exhibitions and incentives) the company saw a return of between $10 and $14.99. Customer meetings were cited as having the greatest returns, in the range of $15-$19.99 per dollar invested while returns for conferences and trade shows were in the range of $4-$5.99 for each dollar spent.
The study found that curbing business travel could actually reduce a company’s profits for years (forfeiting 17 per cent of its profits in the first year and taking more than three years to recover that profit).
This really is staggering stuff and goes a long way to stressing the importance of meetings in all their forms.
Which is where the resort and spa market fits in so well. Meetings are about learning, education, networking, rewarding, building a stronger team, and developing new strategies – all elements that can be achieved by hosting events in quality resorts.
Rounds of golf with colleagues and clients, spa treatments for partners or indeed hard-working employees as a sign of thanks for a job well done, fine-dining, awards nights, and simply getting away from it all, each have their place in conference programs, with many well-suited to today’s style of resort.
Mantra Kooindah Waters Golf and Spa Resort
The Mantra Kooindah Waters Golf and Spa Resort on the NSW Central Coast just over one hour from Sydney, has the kind of layout and design that is tailor-made to effective meetings.
The four-and-a-half star resort offers an 18 hole championship golf course, a purpose-built endota spa, spacious self-contained apartments or hotel accommodation, exceptional dining experiences, and high quality meetings facilities. With 84 rooms, the property has the capacity to accommodate up to 192 delegates.
Conference packages include half and full day options with standard delegate packages starting from $55 per person. Purpose-built conference rooms include the ballroom, Kooindah 1, Kooindah 2, Kooindah 3 and the choice of two boardrooms as well as break-out areas.
It is also home to the all-Australian endota spa which offers down to earth service, all-Australian organic body treatments, facials and massage, and nurturing Australian organic skincare. Treatments include: extended day spa treatments; spa body treatments; massage; facials; men’s spa treatments; hand and feet day spa treatments; waxing, tinting and tanning; and group day spa treatment options.
Shopping is also a big thing with endota spa offering dermalogica products, the endota spa organic skin care range, endota organic gift packs, endota organic gift vouchers, nail paint, and endota spa accessories.
And for those who prefer to hit the greens than the spa, Kooindah also offers a stunning 18-hole par 72 championship golf course designed by Ross Watson.
Measuring 6185 metres, the golf course sits in harmony with its natural environment. Incorporating natural wetlands, lakes, ponds and natural flora, the atmosphere of the golf course will inspire and challenge your game, while offering picturesque vistas from all directions. One can only hope!
To learn more visit www.kooindahwaters.com.au.
For groups who really want to get away from it all to a destination such as Queensland’s Gold Coast there are a plethora of resort and spa options available.
The award-winning Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa is an ideal business destination providing five-star deluxe accommodation, complemented by outstanding service. The resort prides itself on offering guests a high level of quality accommodation and warm, personalised service.
And that’s not all the property offers either. Few resorts in the world can offer guests the opportunity to swim among brightly coloured tropical fish and snorkel through an artificial coral reef as they experience the wonders of the sea, but that’s exactly what your delegates can do at this resort.
An $8 million aquatic playground forms the centrepiece of the resort and spreads across a hectare of landscaped gardens. This includes a five-metre deep saltwater lagoon, home to more than 400 tropical fish where Marriott guests can scuba dive, snorkel and swim through waterfalls into rock grottos and spas.
In terms of conferencing, the resort’s facilities include a grand ballroom, seven meeting rooms of various sizes, a fully appointed executive boardroom and galleries to accommodate up to 50 exhibition booths. Pre-function areas and terraces which adjoin several of the meeting rooms and galleries offer views of the resort’s pools and lagoons. As part of the Marriott group, the property offers the Marriott’s Meetings Matters Promotion. For meetings and events booked and held at the property before August 31, 2010 groups will receive:
 • 100 per cent allowable attrition
• 10 per cent rebate off the master bill
• Double Marriott Rewards points (up to 100,000 points)
Conditions do apply so for further information contact the sales team on (07) 5592 9800.
Radisson Resort Gold Coast
The Radisson Resort Gold Coast is another impressive property in the area, offering extensive facilities and great service. Surrounded by golf course greens, lush landscaped grounds and lakes, the property is well-suited to up to 350 delegates.
Leisure facilities include two swimming pools, day and night tennis courts, a fitness centre, walking tracks, and a day spa. Palm Meadows and the Lakelands Golf Course are just metres from the resort entrance. Nearby partner golf courses include Robina Woods, The Glades, and The Colonial.
Team-building elements can include golf days, early morning tai chi sessions on the picturesque activity field, or superb pampering treatments.
Radisson’s onsite Future Therapy Day Spa offers a menu of extensive pampering and therapeutic treatments. Individuals or groups can relax as highly skilled therapists offer a number of treatment rooms. A spa treatment can be part of a rejuvenating and refreshingly different team-building incentive. Guests are given the VIP treatment with cheese platters, herbal tea or a glass of sparkling wine.
Radisson Resort Gold Coast is just 10 minutes’ drive from the Gold Coast’s famous surfing beaches, exciting nightlife, shopping centres, the casino and the Gold Coast Conference and Exhibition Centre. A shuttle bus offers a regular service to and from the Gold Coast and Brisbane airports and local destination points.
 The recently refurbished four-and-a-half star resort has 280 guest rooms in three styles, and all rooms have ensuite bathrooms and either private balconies or courtyards. In-room facilities include high-speed internet access, work desks, direct dial phones, air-conditioning, mini bars, and room service.
Food and beverage facilities include a comprehensive catering service, room service, Chelos at Radisson Restaurant and the Rex Lounge Bar.
Catering can be arranged for groups of 10 to 400 guests. There are 10 versatile conference rooms for groups of 10 to 700 people, and two outdoor venues with views across the golf course to the Gold Coast hinterland and Surfers Paradise skyline.
The resort’s audio-visual and creative styling partner Staging Connections offers integrated technology, technical advice, and imaginative solutions for meetings and events. Specialist services include a paging communications device and doorcard digital signage. Wireless internet access extends throughout conference venues, the lobby, and restaurant. The resort has a business centre, 24-hour reception and an experienced conference and events team.
The Radisson Resort Gold Coast has won numerous awards including a national MEA Best Venue with Accommodation Award, Queensland Hotel Association Best Deluxe Accommodation, Best Restaurant in a Hotel, five international Radisson Presidents Awards and the Carlson Hotel of the Year Asia Pacific.
For more information email gcsales@radisson.com or telephone (07) 5555 7703.
If your group is looking for an inspirational conference, staff retreat, or product launch location that is away from the bustling crowd and not far from Brisbane, the beautiful Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel | Spa Resort on North Stradbroke Island, “Straddie” as it is affectionately known, is the perfect destination and venue for you.
Situated just steps away from pristine white sandy beaches and crystal blue surf the Spa Resort offers an experience likened to being at a beautiful, overseas sub-tropical destination, yet it’s only approx 60mins from Brisbane.
The venue offers: flexible conference packages, professional conference facilities, conference rooms that overlook the Coral Sea and cater for up to 130 delegates, a selection of conference menus, a very experienced events team who aim to deliver beyond expectations, assistance in organising extra curricula activities on the island, a day spa on site and accommodation choices ranging from standard hotel rooms and suites to 3 & 4 bedroom beautifully appointed self contained luxury apartments with views to the Coral Sea as far as the eye can see.
Access to “Straddie” is easy and is via water taxi and vehicular barges which regularly ferry passengers between the mainland township of Cleveland and the island community of Dunwich.
Book your conference during June & July 2010, and receive 10% off accommodation* for delegates (*conditions & sales period apply). Call the events team for details on +617 3409 8188 or visit www.stradbrokehotel.com.au for more information.
When it comes to indulgence thrown in with some quality conferencing agendas then Voyages’ offerings should be on the must do list. Voyages has properties in the Northern Territory and at the southern end of the Whitsundays.
In the so-called “Red Centre” Voyages offers Ayers Rock Resort which comprises Sails in the Desert, the Desert Gardens Hotel, the Emu Walk Apartments, the Lost Camel Hotel, and the Outback Pioneer Hotel and Lodge.
For those seeking some relaxation and pampering in-between meetings, the property is home to the Red Ochre Spa.
The pick of the bunch, however, has to be Longitude 131° just a short distance from Ayers Rock Resort. Luxurious, eco-sensitive and romantic, Longitude 131° lies at the gateway of the dual World Heritage listed wilderness of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, and incorporates five-star luxury and private views of the sun rising and setting over Uluru (Ayers Rock).
With just 15 tents in total at Longitude 131° you only have to share this amazing experience with just a few others which makes it ideal for high-end corporate meetings and incentives.
Voyages’ Whitsundays offering is Voyages Brampton Island. This property is surrounded by sparkling waters, 12 white sandy beaches, coral gardens and an array of national park walking and jogging tracks.
To learn more visit www.voyages.com.au.
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