Those hard-working folk at the Brisbane Marketing Convention Bureau have been kicking up their heels in recent months thanks to continuing good news about the state of the business events market in the Queensland capital.
The city’s status as an international meeting destination continues to rise with the city claiming 56th place in the 2006 International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) city rankings. ICCA reports that Brisbane (previously ranked 80th) hosted 21 meetings in 2006 (based on the ICCA definition of an international conference) compared to 13 meetings in 2005.
This is a major leap forward for the city, with special mention here having to go to the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre which continues to spearhead international marketing for Brisbane.
But the good news doesn’t stop there. In related news, The Deloitte HotelBenchmark Global Performance Review has ranked Brisbane – with a hotel occupancy rate of 84.6 per cent – at the top of its 2006 global hotel occupancy rankings for four and five-star hotels in Australia. The report credits the introduction of additional flight routes (including Qantas flights to Los Angeles and Jetstar flights to New Zealand) as one of the factors contributing to the high occupancy rates.
But wait…there’s more. This year has seen Brisbane make a huge start in securing meetings business, securing two high profile events.
On the international front, Brisbane has triumphed over Japan and won the right to host the 2010 International Council of Nurses, International Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse Network Conference. The conference is expected to attract more than 500 delegates over three days and two nights.
Meanwhile, on the domestic front, the Australian Technical Analysts Association has selected Brisbane as the destination for its national conference to be held at the Queensland University of Technology Gardens Theatre. The conference, scheduled for October 2007, is expected to attract more than 300 delegates over three days and two nights. Brisbane Marketing CEO, David Regan, said these latest bid wins are further proof of the city’s appeal as a meetings and events destination.
“With our world-class venues, outstanding facilities and unique leisure attractions Brisbane has proved once again that it is the ideal business destination,” Mr Regan said.
“No-one knows Brisbane – and the local meetings and events industry – better than the Brisbane Marketing Convention Bureau. The bureau has extensive city-wide industry networks, a track record of success, and a reputation for delivering clients the highest standard of customer service.
“The bureau can help meeting planners and organisations with everything – from preparing a conference bid to sourcing venues and accommodation to creating pre and post tours and partner programs.”
And it appears if it is doing just that and much more. Watch this space for more great news from Brisbane.
Citigate and The Sebel
Mirvac Hotels & Resorts recently welcomed Citigate King George Square Brisbane and The Sebel King George Square Brisbane (pictured right) to its Queensland portfolio. Formerly Carlton Crest hotels, the newly acquired 4.5 and four-star properties will undergo an immediate and significant refurbishment program which will enable them to fall in line with the well established Sebel and Citigate brands. Co-branded to offer two levels of accommodation under the Citigate (four-star) and Sebel (4.5 star) brands, the hotel is ideally located in the heart of Brisbane close to the financial and shopping districts. Citigate King George Square Brisbane offers 228 spaciously appointed studio guestrooms while The Sebel King George Square Brisbane offers 210 spacious rooms, including seven luxury suites with spa baths and views of the CBD, Brisbane’s inner suburbs or the central courtyard. This hotel also boasts Brisbane’s largest conference and convention facilities with a capacity for up to 1000 people.
Visit www.mirvac.com.au for further details.
Regus Brisbane
Leading global outsourced office provider, Regus has just opened its first Brisbane office, located in the Riverside Centre at 123 Eagle Street. Situated on level 18, the new Brisbane office is 1452 square metres and will be known as Regus Riverside. It is a prominent premium grade building, designed by Harry Seidler overlooking the financial district and Brisbane River. According to Regus Australia GM, Ian Wheeler, the Brisbane office market is booming and there is strong demand for outsourced office space in the area. Several businesses have already signed with Regus in Brisbane including the Diamond Exchange. The new centre has the capacity to service 162 people, offering 40 offices and four meeting and conference rooms.
Features include fully furnished and equipped ready-to-use offices, with on site facilities including high-speed internet and digital telephone services, meeting and conference room facilities, and on site business and IT support. The four meeting and conference rooms range in size from 12 to 50 square metres, catering for up to 40 people. Services include a whiteboard, flipchart, overhead projector, inclusion of local telephone calls, high-speed internet for one person, TV and VCR or DVD. Additional pay-as-you-use services including catering, business support services, video conferencing, data projector hire and computer hire are available on demand. For further information visit www.regus.com.au.
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Just minutes from the heart of the city centre, The Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre’s (BCEC) location is one of its biggest selling points when it comes to conferences and meetings. It has 21 multi-purpose meeting rooms, including The Great Hall which seats up to 4000 with the capacity to accommodate 8000, and The Plaza Ballroom which caters for 1380 banquet-style. The single level exhibition centre provides 20,000 square metres of column-free, air-conditioned space. The BCEC also has its own dedicated taxi rank and secure undercover car park providing 1600 car park spaces. For details telephone (07) 3308 3000 or visit www.bcec.com.au.
Brisbane City Hall
The Brisbane City Hall is an elegant heritage-listed function venue that offers eight versatile function rooms suitable for business meetings from 20 up to 400 guests. City Hall’s location in the city centre adjacent to King George Square makes it ideal for any business event. The main auditorium can seat up to 1544 guests for theatre-style presentations, and features a sky dome ceiling, ornate sculpturing, heritage-listed pipe organ, dress circle balcony, permanent stage and polished floor. A variety of other function rooms can be transformed for events catering from 20 to 380. For more information, telephone (07) 3403 4233 or visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/cityhall.
Customs House
Located on the river in Brisbane’s CBD, Customs House is one of the city’s heritage icons. It features a licensed restaurant, and unique facilities for a variety of private and corporate functions. The largest of the rooms is The Long Room, which can cater for 350 cocktail-style or 200 banquet-style. Its restaurant provides dining in heritage surroundings as well as outside dining overlooking the river and the Story Bridge, while its stunning ballroom, Corinthian columns, and location on Queen Street gives Customs House something different to offer when it comes to meetings and events. For more information telephone (07) 3365 8999 or visit www.customshouse.com.au.
Brisbane Marriott
The Brisbane Marriott is described as being Brisbane’s “finest five-star hotel” just two minutes’ walk from the central business district. The property has 267 accommodation rooms and nine meeting rooms, the largest of which can easily accommodate up to 250 delegates. Conference rooms offer superb natural light with spectacular river and city views. Additional guest services include a Grecian-style swimming pool, sauna and spa, a fully equipped gymnasium, The Dome Retreat Spa, and 24-hour in-room dining. For further details telephone (07) 3303 8000 or visit www.marriott.com.au.
Hilton Brisbane
The five-star Hilton Brisbane is located in the heart of Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall shopping precinct and has 240 newly renovated guest rooms, a new health club and spa, the recently opened Below 7 bar and lounge, a pool and a tennis court. The hotel has recently seen the reconstruction of all function rooms including the Grand Ballroom and the new Queens Ballroom, and added three new high-tech meeting rooms. For more information telephone (07) 3234 2000 or visit www.hilton.com.
Tangalooma
If your delegates really want to experience what Brisbane is all about then take them to Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort on Moreton Island. As well as meeting rooms (for up to 180) and just over 300 accommodation rooms, Tangalooma is where your delegates can get their feet wet and feed wild dolphins in their natural habitat. The resort also offers quad bike tours and sand tobogganing, which are both great fun. Visit www.tangalooma.com for further details.
Riverlife Adventure Centre
If your group wants an adventure on wheels, on rocks, on water, or on the land, look no further than the Riverlife Adventure Centre because they’ve got these bases covered. Located in the parkland at the base of Kangaroo Point cliffs on the Brisbane River, the Riverlife Adventure Centre offers ‘no experience necessary’ activities to groups that don’t mind getting active. Abseiling, kayaking, rock climbing, rollerblading, cycling and kick bikes are among the activities available at the Centre. It also has facilities to cater for functions of up to 500 guests. For more information telephone (07) 3891 5766 or visit www.riverlife.com.au.
Story Bridge Adventure Climb
Giving climbers a spectacular, uninterrupted 360-degree view of Brisbane and its surrounds, the Story Bridge Adventure Climb offers groups the experience of climbing the Story Bridge during the morning, day or night. A great way to discover Brisbane and team-build at the same time, the Story Bridge Adventure Climb is a two-and-a-half hour experience that is challenging but safe, and claims to be one of only four bridge climbs in the world. For more information telephone 1300 254 627 or visit www.storybridgeadventureclimb.com.au.
XXXX ALE HOUSE
Located only minutes from Brisbane’s city centre, the XXXX Ale House is more than just a brewery tour. With 125 years of history as an Australian icon behind it, the facility offers an interactive brewery tour, a unique bar offering a true XXXX experience, and an extensive XXXX Beer Gear shop. Aside from the entertainment and educational experience of the tour, the venue is also available for meetings and functions for 50 to 250 guests. For more information telephone (07) 3361 7597 or visit www.xxxx.com.au.
Go karting
Around half an hour out of Brisbane is a karting circuit that claims to be the longest in Queensland. Karting in Paradise (formely MSI Racing) in Ormeau has a track that’s 1.3km in length, made up of a long main straight, tight turns and undulating terrain. It can take up to 18 racers at a time, and has either 6.5 or nine horsepower Dino karts available. Karting in Paradise has a range group packages to choose from, and can organise engraving of trophies to specifically suit groups. For more information telephone (07) 3382 6000 or visit www.kartinginparadise.com.au.
Queensland based event staging companies Staging Dimensions & Lighting Dimensions are settling in to their new 2500 square metre premises in Kedron on Brisbane’s northside. The move allows Dimensions to further implement better safety practices with less manual handling as their new premises allows the use of forklifts in the three dock areas. Other features of the building allow the company to expand its scenic art and set construction areas including large extraction and environmental paint cleaning and waste treatment systems, a dedicated props mezzanine and larger offices separate to the warehouse to accommodate growth in staff numbers. The facility also includes dedicated meeting and training rooms.
The move is part of a revamp strategy the company is working on which includes a new updateable website with features to make it easier for clients to find products and services. Further features including online stock availability and booking will also soon be added, and a new look logo and branding for the company.
Visit www.stagingdimensions.com.au
Since opening, the centre has remained steadfastly true to its traditional core values of producing a quality, innovative product using the finest and freshest of Queensland and Australian produce, committed to delivering a dining experience comparable to the most celebrated international cuisine. Now, 12 years and 30 catering awards later and having honoured that initial promise, it is time to take up the challenge of moving onwards and upwards to new culinary heights and to create new benchmarks in the delivery of modern style cuisine across all events – large and small.
Food & beverage director, Kevin Gulliver, says the changes to the centre’s F&B operation relate to structure, content, presentation and service styles. They are, he says, the most significant changes to be introduced.
“Underpinning this contemporisation of classic culinary and service traditions, is our commitment to deliver inspirational, quality cuisine and outstanding service,” he says.
Key Points of the changes to structure, content, presentation and service styles of Food & Beverage include:
• Greater flexibility of food choices across different event types
• Contemporary food options
• Focus on healthy food choices
• Greater choice of flavours and cooking styles
• Increased customisation of menu selection
• Restaurant style presentation of food
• Discreet and streamlined service
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