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Around the time Russell Crowe was slipping into a pair of leather pants for his new role as Robin Hood his mate Peter Holmes a Court was talking about his new part as head of The Greater Sydney Partnership which aims to grow Sydney’s brand on the world stage. This is a public-private sector initiative with the intention of ultimately growing investment and increasing visitation to the greater Sydney region.
Not to be outdone, NSW Premier Kristina Kenneally launched a master plan for Sydney which includes the upgrade and expansion of convention and exhibition facilities at Darling Harbour and Sydney Olympic Park.
Regrettably, a government announcing a plan like this doesn’t mean that anything will ever come of it. The NSW Government has done a series of backflips in recent times on projects well past the “master plan” stage including a new light rail train line for the inner west. But be that as it may, those working at the coalface of the business events sector are keeping positive including Business Events Sydney’s CEO, Jon Hutchison, and the chief executive of the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Ton van Amerongen.
Mr van Amerongen said the venue’s expansion would create the means to significantly boost the number of international and national business events held in Sydney.
“By increasing the size of the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre we’ll be able to meet the increasing demand from associations and conference organisers wanting to hold their meetings in Sydney, Australia’s leading business events city,” he said following the announcement.
“An expansion of our facilities would also allow existing events at our venue to grow in size. It would be a great result for Sydney, delivering significant economic benefit and employment.
In its announcement, the NSW Government charged the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority with responsibility for delivering the masterplan, which will examine options for an expanded convention and exhibition facility in Darling Harbour as well as the refurbishment of the Sydney Entertainment Centre and the integration of new facilities with the Barangaroo Project.
Opened in 1988 and expanded in 1999, the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre hosts more than 600 events a year.
BE Sydney’s Jon Hutchison said the announcement comes at a time when global competition for business events is extremely fierce.
“We have 105 events already booked right up until 2017 representing an estimated $638 million for the city – but with better facilities, we can win even more business,” he said.
Even without additional facilities Sydney is performing admirably. BE Sydney recently secured the 9th Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress for 2012, with an anticipated 4200 delegates attending, placing the value of this event close to $17 million.
In July this year Sydney will welcome the Lions Club International Convention with an estimated 20,000 delegates attending. And in 2011 Amway China will be coming into town with 15,000 delegates participating in its corporate incentive event.
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The roadshow, which showcases the brand’s latest products, saw sales staff treated to a cocktail reception outside the showground’s Badgery Pavilion before entering the pavilion for a presentation.
After being treated to a live performance by Jon Stevens, and a video message on a giant screen from LG’s global CEO, the screen lifted away to reveal a themed display area with all of LG’s exciting products for 2010. Sales staff had the chance to test out the products while enjoying gourmet food and live entertainment.
Sydney Showground executive chef Tim Browne likes to go the extra mile for all Sydney Showground clients, and he outdid himself by carving an ice sculpture of LG’s iconic logo as a surprise for the clients. The sculpture served as an ice bar, topped with sushi for LG’s guests.
“We were so impressed that Sydney Showground took the extra time and care to make the event even more special for our client and their guests,” said event organiser Natalie Lam from TP Events.
The main challenge was that the client wanted a venue that could host a cocktail party, presentation and keep the exciting new products hidden before a big reveal took place, leading guests into an exhibition space where they could get to know the new product while enjoying gourmet food – they wanted all this in the one venue.
Sydney Showground’s Badgery Pavilion was the perfect location for the launch. The Badgery Pavilion is a versatile venue that could be divided in two by a 5m x 10m giant video screen and two large red curtains either side. This allowed for a conference in one half, and exhibition in the other.
The screen and drapes flew out as part of a dramatic theatrical reveal, allowing guests to walk through into the exhibition area.
To add even more excitement to the big reveal, chef Tim Browne arranged for food stations to be placed in the exhibition, with the flames from the pan-fried Moroccan prawns adding extra drama to the spectacle.
Guests then enjoyed the sizzling prawns, cooked right in front of them. Other food stations saw freshly cooked margarita pizza, sushi on ice, and warm Belgian waffles with hot chocolate dipping sauce served to guests. LG had asked Tim Browne to design a well balanced gourmet menu, with a little excitement, and he certainly delivered beyond expectations.
Event manager Natalie Lam of TP Events, received comments including: “Awesome”, “Best show yet”, “LG rocks”, “Fantastic food – more please!”, “Is it really home time?”
“These were just some of the things our guests told us,” she said. So was I happy as the event producer? Yes. Was our client happy? Yes. Did our guests enjoy themselves? Yes.
“Thanks to Sydney Showground and their professional staff for providing a blank canvas and the flexibility for us to design, create and build the perfect environment for LG and their retailers. Sydney Showground staff were very easy to work with and our floor manager Robert Bourke was wonderful, he couldn’t have been more helpful.”
To learn more about Sydney Showground visit
www.sydneyshowground.com.au.
In its second year under the Australian Business Events Expo banner, this show remains a staple on the business events calendar. Numbers are very strong for the 2010 show as companies from a range of markets join forces for the show ,including professional conference organisers, event management, associations, banking, finance and insurance, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, government departments, local councils and fast moving consumer goods.
Head chefs from Australia’s top event venues will come together at the Australian Business Events Expo for live demonstrations of their signature dishes. The latest trends and ideas in event cuisine will also be revealed by chefs from Hilton Sydney, Laissez Faire, Dockside Group, Navarra Group, Sydney Showground, Mantra, AIH Group, Log Cabin Penrith and the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.
“The Taste Theatre Kitchen is a chance to meet and learn from the talent behind the food,” explains event manager for Australian Business Events Expo, Gabrielle Stephens.
“We don’t often get to see the faces that create one of the most important elements of our events. These first-class chefs will share the secrets of successful event cuisine and give advice on choosing appropriate menus.”
The Taste Kitchen will host 11 one-hour sessions across the two days of the expo. The audience will have the chance to quiz the chefs during discussion facilitated by Mariette Rups-Donnelly from PowerHouse Presentation.
Delegates to the Australian Events Business Expo can also attend a series of professional development seminars being organised by Meetings & Events Australia (MEA).
MEA held focus groups with meeting planners earlier in the year to help them identify the issues of most concern to industry professionals and to identify the information they need to receive to help them do their work. The outcomes of these focus groups have been instrumental in the development of relevant content for the seminars.
The seminars will explore ways of bringing creativity to business events, the elements that ‘make or break’ meetings, developing trends in the industry, and the ways to proactively respond and remain competitive. Full details of the seminars can be viewed at www.abbexpo.com.au.
Artisan exploration
The brand new feature ‘Be a Connoisseur’ will be a delectable way of sampling the fine wine and artisan food available at business events hosted in regional Australia.
This area will invite delegates to touch and taste the offerings and provide them with new ideas and greater knowledge of specialised event catering.
Making a comeback in 2010 is the LimeLight Lounge, a central feature which showcases the latest event entertainment acts live on stage. The LimeLight Lounge provides a solution to the difficulties of sampling and booking entertainment for a range of events.
“This feature provides delegates with a real snapshot of what the entertainment acts available are really like. There is nothing like seeing them first hand – and this is exactly what the LimeLight Lounge provides,” Ms Stephens said.
The design and production of the Expo’s cafe will resemble a day spa providing a relaxed lounge atmosphere for expo delegates. From the massages and showcases of daydream destinations to light and healthy, it will be an oasis on the busy show floor.
 The milestone was celebrated with a cocktail party attended by founder Captain Trevor Haworth, his wife Geraldine, the Haworth family, close friends, suppliers and current and past staff on board Sydney 2000.
The emotional evening paid homage to the hard work of Captain Haworth, who started Captain Cook Cruises 40 years ago on May 1, 1970 when the first five-dollar-a-head coffee cruise departed Sydney Harbour with 136 passengers.
Today Captain Cook Cruises operates 24 vessels, employs 400 staff and not only cruises the waters of Sydney Harbour, but Fiji, the Murray River and the Great Barrier Reef.
Captain Haworth proudly remarked on the evening, “The sea is at the heart of this business. It’s been a labour of love from the beginning and has all happened because of my darling wife Geraldine who over the years has supported me and the family. We also thank the banks, staff, tour operators, wholesalers and clients who have stood by us,” he said.
“We had numerous highlights from our early days of coffee and lunch cruises to the purchase of Matilda Cruises and the Pope’s visit. We have extended our business from day cruises to overnight and weekend cruises. Today we have over 400 employees, some who have served more than 30 years, [and] many are here tonight.
“Captain Cook Cruises is privileged and proud to take Australia’s number one attraction, Sydney Harbour, and package and present it to the world. Our challenge now in tourism will be to maintain the character, identity and the integrity of our tourism product.”
The so-called Master Events Calendar (www.eventsnsw.com.au) profiles upcoming major festivals and events which gives conference planners a better understanding of what’s happening in Sydney and indeed NSW during the period they are devising their programs.
Festivals being held around the same period may be something that planners can tap into, or even assist in the development of themes.
BE Sydney CEO, Jon Hutchison, agrees, believing business events can be planned to coincide with major festivals.
“This allows delegates to take a break from proceedings and truly experience what Sydney has to offer,” he said.
 According to Funktionality, Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool is just such a venue. With an iconic view over historic Woolloomooloo and a unique poolside layout, there is so much to play with when showcasing it to Sydney’s corporate elites.
Funktionality Event Management and Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool have been working together to offer the very best in catering, beverage and service along with outstanding entertainment acts, professional styling and event management services, and did so once more in a recent showcase.
Showcases are a common occurrence in Sydney so how was this showcase going to stand out on a cold Wednesday night in May? The first challenge was in creating a point of difference. The invitation needed to be opened, read and remembered. The concept grew around the venue location and design, plus an offer that seemed too good to be true. The guests received an invitation to step aboard the ‘Extravagance’ cruise ship as she docked for one night only in Woolloomooloo. The entrance to the venue became the ship’s gang plank, the cocktail space became the top deck of the ship and the poolside became the tropical destination.
The client list was carefully handpicked and personally invited. With their interest piqued and RSVPs rolling in, the next step was to create a night guests would never forget. The objective was for the client to envisage what could be created for them so they were encouraged to book the venue themselves.
 To showcase the many different levels and rooms of the venue and to make sure the guests flowed between them, the MC encouraged the guests to explore the “boat”. Carefully timed announcements of prize draws and entertainment segments drew the guests back to the main room at the appropriate times.
The food and beverage was spread out over the ship. Main canapé service commenced in the cocktail lounge, a paella station and cocktail bar serviced the guests at the tropical destination, and sweet treats were found in the Captain’s Room which had been set up in a stylish conference style.
With the venue located in such a picturesque surrounding, it was the perfect canvas to create something visually stunning to become a talking point and showcase the versatility of the venue. Using vibrant blue lighting filtering through the water, a sunken dining table was placed in the pool, topped with a stunning floral design and a sparkling art deco chandelier.
In keeping with the cruise ship theme, the entertainment was carefully selected to blend in with the evening while still creating points of significant interest during the night. The MC was David Malek. As the ship prepared to set sail, the horn blared and David called ‘All Aboard’ before launching into a fantastic rendition of ‘Beyond the Sea’.
To learn more emailinfo@funktionality.com.au or call the team on (02) 9557 8105.
Australian Technology Park is fast developing a reputation for cutting edge events and it’s been no different in recent times with the venue recently hosting and part sponsoring one of Rosemount Fashion Week’s off-site shows.
The runway show of designer Therese Rawsthorne (pictured above), was held in the ATP’s exhibition hall and was attended by around 400 key guests including local and international press. The bare bones of the ATP’s warehouse-style space worked highly effectively in contrast to the elegance of the designer’s collection.
A week or so later ATP was again playing host to a fashion-inspired event – the In Style – Woman of Style Awards. This was an exclusive red carpet event, and was also held in the ATP’s exhibition hall for the second year running.
This event attracted more than 250 high profile guests and media.
To learn more about the ATP visit www.atp.com.au.
For those delegates who want to party beyond the formal conference program and are in town on a Saturday night, ivy (pictured above right) in the heart of the city may be just what you’re looking for.
pure ivy will be held every Saturday night at ivy bar, the Den and the Lounge and aims to set a new benchmark in bar and club entertainment, further cementing ivy’s position as one of the major venues of the world. pure ivy will transform the venue into a hedonistic mecca for music lovers and host guest appearances from some of the world’s most prolific and sought after DJs, putting ivy in the same league as clubs such as Pacha Ibiza, Paradise Club in Mykonos and Space Miami.
“We hope that pure ivy will really lift the standard of Saturday night entertainment in the city,” said Merivale CEO, Justin Hemmes.
ivy also offers a bevy of conferencing options. To learn more visit www.merivale.com.
A sculpture commissioned by the Signorelli family has been unveiled in front of Doltone House Darling Island Wharf in Pyrmont paying tribute to Australian migrants like the late Biaggio Signorelli who arrived in Australia from Sicily and established the successful Doltone House Group.
Award-winning sculptor Terrance Plowright created the bespoke piece under the guidance and vision of the Signorelli family. Featuring nine larger than life individuals, the sculpture weighs 10 tonnes, occupies six metres and has taken over 18 months to complete. Aptly entitled Life From A Suitcase, the monument depicts a larger than life Biaggio Signorelli, his wife, Filippa, and their seven grandchildren. Fittingly, the sculpture’s residence is to be on Wharf 12 in Pyrmont - where the late Mr Signorelli arrived in Australia alone and penniless from Sicily when he was 17.
Pyrmont is also the home of two of the Doltone House properties, Doltone House Jones Bay Wharf and the new Doltone House Darling Island Wharf. Visit www.doltonehouse.com.au to learn more about the group and its event spaces.
Le Montage is proud to announce its multi million dollar interior refurbishment due to take place in July 2010. Overlooking Iron Cove Bay Le Montage (pictured left) is a sophisticated yet contemporary event centre that offers the very best in quality cuisine, professional services and memorable event experiences.
 Located only minutes from Sydney’s CBD and situated among picturesque native gardens on the water’s edge, Le Montage has hosted events including the NRL West Tigers luncheon and dinner, Victor Chang Foundation, Princess Charlotte Alopecia Foundation Dinner, Italian Association Dinners, Bali Appeal Dinner and Liberal Party dinners, to name a few.
The order of refurbishment entails closure of the venue for the entire month of July 2010 to reopen its doors and reveal to Sydney a world-class venue with surprises and elements that are set to impress no matter what the occasion may be.
Managing director Giovannino Navarra believes the refurbishment will appeal to all and add inspiration, saying “it will be a grand iconic oasis; the new gateway entrance to the city of Sydney.” This follows the recent opening of sister venue Curzon Hall’s $14 million dollar opening of its new ballroom Lady Mary’s Pavilion and car park. To learn more visit www.lemontage.com.au or telephone (02) 9555 6099.
Rosehill Gardens recently secured a coup by having its Grand Pavilion named as the venue of choice for the formal ceremony and gala dinner of the NSW Tourism Awards 2010.
The venue in the geographic heart of Sydney will play host to the awards night in February 2011 with more than 800 people expected to attend.
The 2010 New South Wales Tourism Awards were launched in May by the NSW Minister for Tourism, Jodi McKay, who welcomed the decision to hold the gala event at Rosehill Gardens, and encouraged all tourism businesses to enter the awards. To learn more about Rosehill Gardens’ event spaces visit www.rosehillgardens.com.au.
One of the major players in the events scene in Sydney, The Dockside Group is now opening its restaurants at The Rocks for private dining. Across the three restaurants Dockside offers 22 private spaces suitable for between 15 and 3000 delegates. These restaurants are perfect for corporate dining where a private room is required or for smaller boardroom-style meetings - all with the Sydney Harbour outlook.
Dockside currently has three promotional offers for these spaces including:
1. End of Financial Year Celebration - celebrate your success without breaking the budget. Only $89.00pp includes a three course alternate serve menu, four hour superior beverage package with premium beers, table decorations and theming.
2. Winter Specials - Book your event to be held in the winter months of June, July, or August and receive complimentary dining vouchers up to the value of $600 to be used at your leisure in any of Dockside’s four restaurants.
3. Hang out @ Italian Village - Bring your friends and colleagues along to your own private get-together and enjoy stunning harbour views by the warmth of the terrace. Keep the winter cold at bay with drinks and a platter menu, all at very little cost – minimum food and beverage spend of $1000 applies.
Conditions for these do apply. For details email marketing@docksidegroup.com.au or visit www.dockside.com.au.
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