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And their efforts are paying dividends, with Queensland kicking goals in all the right places. From the Gold Coast on the southern border through to Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Townsville and the tropical north, including Cairns, Palm Cove and Port Douglas, and the Whitsundays, Queensland really does have something for everyone.
You want beaches? Queensland’s got them. You want a big-city experience where facilities are purpose built and hotels five-star? Queensland’s got that too. You want to get away from it all on a tropical island? Take a tour of Queensland – there are plenty to choose from.
Yes indeed, Queensland is spilling over with wonderful conference centres, exceptional hotels and resorts, and an abundance of things to see and do. And the great news for meeting, incentive and event planners is that air access to major hubs including Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, Townsville, the Whitsundays and Cairns is second to none, with plenty of seats daily from most major southern ports.
Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Cairns each offer purpose-built convention facilities while the smaller destinations including the Sunshine Coast, the Whitsundays and Townsville, each offer venues of varying shapes, sizes and configurations that fit the mid-range meetings market.
And when delegates aren’t busy in conference sessions and are searching for something to do, they don’t have to go far, with spa facilities popping up like daisies in springtime, and championship golf courses seemingly on every corner. A tour of the Gold Coast and Cairns and the tropical north, for example, should have keen golfers salivating with delight at the courses on offer, while a quick perusal of the Sunshine Coast and Palm Cove will show that the day spa is alive and well.
For those with a love of the water then Queensland really is the place to be. With a temperate year-round climate in most destinations, getting on the water literally is just a phone call away. If in Brisbane you can be enjoying a cocktail cruise on the Brisbane River or be feeding a dolphin at Tangalooma within an hour of leaving your meeting. On the Sunshine Coast you can hop straight into your wetsuit for a learn to surf class while in the Whitsundays you can be exploring the reef in what feels like a matter of moments. And if you prefer being on terra firma then the opportunities to explore rainforests, national parks and pristine wilderness areas are all possible in Queensland.
The so-called “sunshine state” attracts a large amount of conference business from New South Wales and Victoria, and appears to be luring large international groups as well. International Congress & Convention Association data for 2006 shows that the city of Brisbane played host to 21 international congresses while Cairns hosted 14. These two combined puts Queensland ahead of Adelaide and Perth, and not far behind Sydney and Melbourne, the reigning Australian champions in the international association meetings stakes.
On the following pages mice.net highlights some of Queensland’s most prolific destinations for meetings, incentives and events, and some of the venues leading the way in this highly competitive and lucrative sector of the tourism industry.
In partnership with Brisbane Marketing, the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre’s international bidding team has confirmed 10 major international conventions, and anticipates more wins from now until Christmas.
The events already won will deliver 11,500 delegates to Brisbane with an estimated economic benefit to Queensland of $28 million, bringing the total number of new international and national conventions confirmed for the centre in the past 12 months to an unprecedented 77.
Convention centre general manager, Robert O’Keeffe said the recent spate of convention wins was the result of a carefully researched and targeted sales strategy. Many of the successful bids were researched and prepared by the team at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, in partnership with Brisbane Marketing and with support from the Queensland Government, and reflect the extent of the collaboration and teamwork on the part of the city.
Paul Lewin, director of business development for Brisbane Marketing, concurred.
He said the city was presently bidding for one of the world’s top 20 conventions – the FDI Annual World Dental Congress, which, if won, will be held in Brisbane in 2013. The four-day event is the largest single global gathering of dentists and is expected to attract at least 8000 delegates and their partners from around the world. It is anticipated that the event will generate in excess of $16 million to the Queensland economy.
Mr Lewin said the opportunity to even bid for such a significant conference as FDI reflected Brisbane’s reputation as a leading international meetings destination.
“With record forward bookings – the centre has 1000 event bookings through to 2013 – and outstanding financial performance-based achievements, the centre is headed into a period of continued, sustained growth,” Mr O’Keeffe adds.
Recent international convention bid wins for the city include:
• Asia Pacific Conference on Vision 2008
• Research In Education International Conference 2008
• 29th International Symposium on Sea Turtle Conservation and Biology (2009)
• International Symposium on Remote Sensing 2010
• 20th International Maritime Pilots Congress 2010
• International Horn Symposium 2010
• IFIP World Computer Congress 2010
• The IFLA World Library and Information Congress 2010
• Asian & Oceania Congress on Child Neurology 2011
• 2012 International Council of Archives Congress
 The four-day Asia Pacific Cities Summit was held in venues across Brisbane including Brisbane City Hall, the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) and the new unique venues Queensland Art gallery (QAC) and Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA). ?Delegates to the conference included mayors and leaders of local government, including the sister cities program.
Brisbane based Staging Dimensions was contracted by clients Brisbane City Council and Sequel Communications to manage technical aspects of the event, lighting and management of event signage throughout five venues.
Day one of the event included conference, gala lunch and dinner at Brisbane City Hall which involved performances by Kaishung dancers and drummers at lunch time; and a didgeridoo performance with young Brisbane dancers performing to a multimedia presentation featuring Brisbane school children and working professionals. ?Guests were welcomed by the Lord Mayor, Cambell Newman and Queensland Governor, Dr Quinten Bryce.
Delegates moved to the BCEC for day two of the conference and were the transported to QAG for a cocktail party and to view “River Fire”, Brisbane’s annual fireworks display. In addition delegates enjoyed roving performers, a string quartet, fire dancers and body art painted on models. ?After the party 160 guests were invited to a dinner hosted by the Lord Mayor on the rooftop of GOMA. For day three of the event delegates returned to The BCEC for morning conference sessions while many ventured off to Moreton Island before all delegates gathered at Gianni’s Portside for lunch and panel discussions from various city leaders.
Day four of the conference saw delegates returned to City Hall for conferencing and a farewell lunch.
In recent years the Gold Coast has “seen the light” when it comes to business events. Since the opening of the impressive Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre the destination has gone from strength to strength on the conference and incentive front, attracting not only Australian business but large-scale international incentive groups.
To capitalise on its increased presence, earlier this year Gold Coast Tourism launched the VeryGC.biz website (www.verygc.biz) – a purpose-built business tourism website designed to assist those researching and planning meetings and incentives.
Gold Coast Tourism CEO Pavan Bhatia says VeryGC.biz is another example of the organisation’s renewed strategic focus on the corporate and association traveller and enables them to experience the range of diverse options, conference venues and incentive experiences on offer on the Gold Coast quickly and effectively.
“The Gold Coast has long been the destination of choice for families and leisure tourists from around the world. It is essential to our ongoing growth and development that we leverage our unique assets to their full potential as a business tourism destination also,” he said.
With an abundance of superior venue options on offer, including the $127 million Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre at Broadbeach, the Gold Coast now leads the way in terms of resources and infrastructure that caters to the needs of the corporate and association market.
As a destination, the Gold Coast already has an impressive record of successfully hosting major international and domestic corporate and association events, incentives and conferences. One quite recent example is the highly-praised Hero Honda Gold Coast Product launch in late 2006. The Gold Coast Conference and Exhibition Centre hosted 600 international delegates for Honda’s Gala Product Launch event.
One of the great things about the Gold Coast is that nothing seems to stand still for long. Venues and attractions are always adding to and improving their offerings, ensuring that meeting and incentive groups considering returning to the region for another event always finding something new to do and somewhere different to stay.
For thrill-seekers, or those who want to experience something different on their next Gold Coast visit, take a look at WhiteWater World – described as “the most technologically advanced water ride park on earth”.
The theme park is set to intensify the thrills and spills by adding a brand new dimension to the park – an in-park event venue, aptly called The Shell. The Shell is being touted as the largest reservable area in a theme park on the Gold Coast. Spanning 1300 square metres The Shell opened in September.
Also new on the Gold Coast is The Dream Room at Dreamworld, which also officially opened in September. The new room offers for the first time in the park an exclusive lunch venue for private groups, and doubles as an amazing after dark event destination.
“Providing new options is crucial to sustaining growth and is the secret to our continued success,” explains Dreamworld’s national events manager, Jennifer Neville.
“Dreamworld offers a point of difference with themed worlds, amazing attractions and a host of entertaining characters.”
This space can comfortably seat up to 500 guests. For details visit www.themeparksgoldcoast.com.au.
If you’re seeking accommodation and meetings space in the heart of Surfers Paradise take a look at the Gold Coast International. The 296 recently refurbished rooms, which all boast stunning ocean or mountains views, together with three award-winning restaurants, and 16 meeting rooms, makes the Gold Coast International an excellent choice for events.
The GCI Hotel, as it is affectionately known, is one of the coast’s largest conference and event venues that offers five-star facilities and service right in the heart of Surfers Paradise. Themed events are said to be the GCI Hotel’s speciality, ranging from a unique “ice cave” or “casino” theme to stage shows with roving entertainment designed to delight and captivate delegates.
The hotel’s recently refurbished grand ballroom can seat up to 750 delegates. Outfitted with wireless hi-speed internet access as well as state-of-the-art facility upgrades, the ballroom offers refreshing interiors with custom-made carpets, accentuated by the use of earthy and warm paint schemes finished with modern fittings. In all , the GCI Hotel offers 16 versatile conference rooms bathed in natural light. Visit www.gci.com.au for further details.
Another popular Gold Coast venue, and a relative newcomer, is the iconic Q1 Resort & Spa. You can forget the traditional boardroom at this venue because you won’t find one. Q1 has an extensive array of state-of-the-art conference facilities along with luxury accommodation in the “world’s tallest residential tower”, and is the perfect mix for those looking to hold a conference that mixes business and pleasure.
The Q1 conference facilities on Level 2 include an executive boardroom seating 14 and a ballroom that seats up to 350 theatre-style or 230 for a banquet dinner. Both of these rooms feature natural lighting and ocean aspects. The ballroom can be converted to three smaller function rooms, each with a theatre-style capacity of 80 people. Combined with the terrace and pre-function area the conference centre can cater for a cocktail style event for up 400 people.
The skylight room, situated on level 78 of the Q1 Observation Deck is one of the most unique and popular event locations on the Gold Coast. Available for private and corporate functions after 7pm and prior to 9am, it is a location like no other, with views of the stunning Gold Coast and the glittering night lights.
The main viewing deck on Level 77 of Q1 Observation Deck features the stylish Q1 Skybar and is the perfect place for pre dinner drinks or to simply relax and enjoy a coffee or cocktail. The Observation Deck offers group discounts for 20 people or more.
The stylish one, two and three bedroom apartments at Q1 Resort & Spa include spa bath with separate shower, gourmet kitchen and large open plan living areas, with split bed configurations in all apartments. Visit www.Q1.com.au for further details.
Also centrally located, at the Gold Coast’s Broadwater just minutes to Sea World, is another high quality conference venue, Palazzo Versace. When U2 played a series of concerts in Brisbane in 2006 Bono and the boys made the hotel their home away from home, much to the delight of the locals. The Palazzo Versace has a variety of conference facilities including a boardroom that seats 12, and the Marco Polo room which caters for 40 banquet-style. Decorated with a gold leaf ceiling and silk wall panelling, and with the ability to split into three well-sized meeting rooms, the La Medusa Ballroom offers the largest space, accommodating 270 banquet-style or 500 cocktail-style.
The hotel has 205 hotel suites and 72 condominiums with private balconies, a private marina accessing sea, three restaurants, a pool bar, a Versace boutique store, and the Salus Per Aquum spa. Visit www.palazzoversace.com.au for further details.
For those not wanting to be in the “heart of the action” on their Gold Coast conference the Radisson Resort Gold Coast is a good alternative, located within the lush surroundings of the internationally renowned Palm Meadows Golf Course. The low-rise resort offers 308 contemporary rooms and suites which all offer balconies, patios or courtyards. As well as the fantastic Palm Meadows Golf Course the property has two outdoor swimming pools, four floodlit tennis courts, a fully equipped gymnasium, sauna, outdoor spa, massage and day spa and golf range. And for conferences the resort offers one of the largest conference venues on the Gold Coast which incorporates 11 function rooms as well as some great outdoor spaces. The centre can accommodate up to 400 delegates for meetings or 900 for cocktail parties. Visit www.radisson.com/goldcoastau for further details.
Island life
A taste of island life is also possible on the Gold Coast, especially for those who choose to stay at the popular Couran Cove Island Resort. Just 40 minutes by ferry from the Gold Coast, Couran Cove Island Resort is located on South Stradbroke Island. Its conference and meetings facilities offer a range of settings and spaces, including the main conference venue, the Olympic Room, which is located on the second level of the resort’s conference centre. With views of Couran Cove’s marina and lagoon, this room can cater for 200 theatre-style. The resort also has several outdoor conference space options, including the Pavilion which can cater for up to 300 delegates. Couran Cove Island Resort also offers a variety of waterfront guest rooms and suites, and villas that really give guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in the beautiful surroundings. Visit www.couran.com.
To that end, the Sunshine Coast Convention Bureau (SCCB) recently launched a dedicated incentive brochure designed to entice organisations to the region for their next corporate incentive program.
The brochure outlines the top 10 favourite incentive activities across the region and provides a suggested itinerary for a three night Sunshine Coast incentive program.
Bureau manager, Anne-Marie Coulton says over the past three years the destination has gone through tremendous growth in the number of business events it hosts.
“There has been a steady increase in interest from incentive houses and PCO’s who are looking to the Sunshine Coast for new and fresh ideas for their client incentive and reward programs,” she says.
Incentive favourites according to the bureau include:
• Golf
• Spas
• Great Sandy National Park wilderness
• Attractions including go-karts, UnderWater World and Australia Zoo
• Food, wine and cooking schools
• The hinterland
• Surfing
• Shopping and markets
• Fraser Island
• Relaxation
The bureau’s other key meeting planning piece is the 78-page Sunshine Coast Meeting and Incentive “Navigator”. Ms Coulton says the planner is a valuable tool when organising an event of any size to the Sunshine Coast.
Both the planner and the incentive brochure can be downloaded from the SCCB website. Hard copies can be posted by telephoning (07) 5452 2502 or emailing the bureau on enquiry@tsc.com.au.
There is always something happening on the Sunshine Coast, particularly in the venue and accommodation market. Here are a few of the latest and greatest announcements and happenings.
The Hyatt Regency Coolum continues to be one of the Sunshine Coast’s and Australia’s most renowned destinations for unique conferences and events. The property continues to achieve high marks in the business events industry.
 Earlier this year, Hyatt Regency Coolum commenced the refurbishment of its conference facilities with the Mount Coolum meeting and banquet room undergoing transformation. Designed by the original architect for Hyatt Regency Coolum, Bligh Voller Nield, the refurbishment is a continuation of the Lend Lease and Hyatt International efforts to refurbish the iconic five-star resort.
The Mount Coolum room was the first of a multi-stage refurbishment which introduced a new colour scheme and finishes to the conference venues in order to create more appealing, modern and contemporary spaces that are suitable for both corporate and social events. Following the Mt Coolum Room, other conference facilities at the resort have been refurbished, including the Yaroomba and Yandina rooms, all four ‘M’ rooms and the amenity facilities.
The conference room upgrade continues the program of refurbishment undertaken to date including refurbishment to the Ambassador and President Villas, the Golf Club and Village Square.
The resort facilities are world-class for conferences, retreats, incentives and special events. With 150 hectares of resort grounds, the resort has the flexibility to cater for groups of 10 up to 800. Unique surroundings offer unlimited opportunities for both indoor and outdoor events and banquets and innovative, creative themed functions and activities can be customised for each conference group. For further details visit www.hyatt.com.au or email coolum@hyatt.com.au.
 At the recent HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence, the Novotel Twin Waters Resort – one of the Sunshine Coast’s most celebrated business events properties – took out the award for Best Meetings and Conference Property. This followed shortly after the resort introduced its meet@novotel program.
The resort has unparalleled facilities and a spectacular beachside location and has long been a favourite for major events.
Located less than 10 minutes from the airport, Novotel Twin Waters Resort is built around a six hectare saltwater lagoon and offers 380 guest rooms set among tropical gardens. The resort has a range of facilities including four restaurants, three bars, tennis courts, a day spa and an 18-hole championship golf course.
The resort also has seven meeting rooms and a range of unique outdoor event spaces designed to cater for groups both large and small in size. The Wandiny Room is the resort’s largest venue, seating 1000 theatre-style and 650 banquet-style. Visit www.twinwatersresort.com.au for further details.
For those wanting to be in the heart of Noosa, you can’t get any closer to the action than at the Sheraton Noosa Resort & Spa. With 175 guest rooms, including seven Noosa Lifestyle Spa Studios and 29 suites with private balconies, the Sheraton Noosa Resort & Spa can accommodate up to 350 guests.
The resort is situated in the centre of Noosa, with the Noosa River on one side and Hastings Street on the other, and offers a fitness centre, two restaurants, a pool and the Aqua Day Spa.
The resort’s conference facilities include eight meeting rooms, the largest space catering for 500 cocktail-style in the Noosa Ballroom. For further information visit www.sheraton.com/noosa.
One of the best news stories in recent times is the announcement that Outrigger Hotels & Resorts is heading to the Sunshine Coast after securing a deal with Leighton Properties and the Macquarie Group of Companies to manage the $300 million Viridian Resort & Spa.
Currently under construction and due to open in 2009, the 192-unit Viridian Resort & Spa is located on Noosa Hill, bordered by the Noosa National Park and overlooking the internationally-acclaimed Laguna Bay and Hastings Street precinct.
When completed, the Viridian Resort & Spa will feature 11 buildings centred around the resort’s premier leisure facilities, including two swimming pools, a theatrette, poolside dining, bar, restaurant, gym/sauna, day spa and the largest conference facilities in the region.
Outrigger’s Vice President Oceania, Cliff Olson said he was delighted with the outcome of the negotiations.
“We’ve always wanted to manage a five-star property in Noosa but properties of Viridian’s caliber are very few and far between,” he said.
“Noosa continues to be a preferred holiday playground and we aim to build on Noosa’s leading status through our extensive international sales and marketing networks.”
If nature is your thing then take a look at Kingfisher Bay Resort & Village on Fraser Island.
Set among the rainforest and sandy dunes of heritage-listed Fraser Island, the Kingfisher Bay Resort & Village offers 152 guest rooms and 110 two and three bedroom self-contained villas, three restaurants, four bars with nightly entertainment, and a swimming pool. The four-star resort’s conference facilities include the main function room which seats 300 theatre-style or 180 banquet-style and can also be divided into three separate rooms. Unique outdoor venues are also available. For more information telephone (07) 3032 2814 or visit www.kingfisherbay.com.
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