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Australia is fortunate to have a plethora of casinos scattered throughout the country ensuring that there are plenty of great options for conference groups who meet in different cities, states and territories on an annual basis.
While most are constantly busy there has also been a growth in interest in them in recent times, particularly relating to greater publicity of poker games. Australians were spellbound when Melbournite Joe Hachem won the $10 million World Series of Poker, which has since spawned celebrity poker television shows and greater publicity of poker games here and abroad.
There is no doubt that many casinos are capturing more business because of the rise and rise of poker (some say poker participation has trebled since Joe Hachem’s win), but they are still very much focused on the conference and events market. To that end, we thought it was timely to give readers a small snapshot of Australia’s available casinos, detailing what they offer in terms of facilities and attractions.
Conrad Jupiters completed a $53.5 million refurbishment of its casion facilities in late 2007, coinciding with its 21st birthday. Under the refurbishment project all casino and gaming operations were consolidated onto one refurbished and expanded gaming floor. Stylish balconies were added that provide stunning views of the Broadbeach and the Gold Coast skyline. Accommodation consists of 594 rooms including 29 suites and two penthouses. It has one of the largest convention spaces of any hotel in Australia offering a range of facilities for between five and 2300 delegates. The Pavillion Convention Centre has played host to events and meetings for some of the largest corporations in Australia. Conrad Jupiters has 70 table games and more than 1300 gaming machines, and additional entertainment including comedy, stage shows, live music and DJs. And, with six restaurants, finding something to eat isn’t hard at all. For further details visit www.conrad.com.au/jupiters.
Conrad Treasury opened its doors in 1995 and continues to play a big part in entertaining both visitors to and residents of Brisbane. The Conrad Treasury has more gaming tables and machines than Conrad Jupiters on the Gold Coast and yet it feels far smaller. This is probably because the gaming floors are spread over three levels. Conrad Treasury is located directly opposite the Hotel Conrad, a stylish property with a history all of its own, great dining and exceptional meetings space for small groups. The Surveyors’ Room and the Cabinet Room are probably the pick of the bunch for small corporate meetings. Originally home to Queensland’s surveyors, the Surveyors’ Room has been transformed into an intimate venue combining an elegant meeting room with the convenience of an adjoining annex while the Cabinet Room (the fomer meeting place of the State Cabinet) is great for boardroom-style meetings and events. Its stunning Queensland Maple boardroom table still dominates the room, complemented by state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment. Visit www.conradtreasury.com.au for further details.
Wrest Point is perched on the waterfront on the River Derwent in Hobart and has been a popular conference and entertainment venue in Tasmania for many years. Not only does it offer a wide-variety of accommodation choices, many with views of Mt Wellington, the city of Hobart and the harbour, but it has a large choice of restaurants and bars in a variety of styles (five restaurants and six bars to be precise). There’s also mini-golf and tennis, a day spa, a fully equipped health club and pool, and of course the casino. Wrest Point was Australia’s first casino, opening in 1973, and continues to be popular with visitors and locals. The venue is hugely popular for meetings and special events, offering facilities for up to 1600 delegates. There are 10 meeting rooms in total, with a style and size to fit just about everybody. Visit www.wrestpoint.com.au for further details.
The Reef Casino, located in Cairns, is a hive of activity any night of the week, and is hugely popular not only with locals but visiting conference delegates. Small and intimate, it is great for those who prefer a little bit less noise and activity that are often found at some of Australia’s larger casinos. Accommodation is in the Sofitel Reef Casino Cairns, described as “Tropical North Queensland’s most prestigious hotel”. The hotel has 128 luxuriously appointed guest rooms and suites, with private balconies overlooking the city or Trinity Inlet. The casino and hotel are just minutes from the Cairns Convention Centre and the ferry terminal. Sofitel Reef Casino Cairns offers a versatile choice of boardrooms, private lounges, a grand ballroom, video conference facilities and several stunning outdoor venues. Visit www.reefcasino.com.au for further details.
Casino Canberra offers a range of great entertainment both inside the casino and outside, having forged a close relationship with the Royal and Canberra Theatres. Groups can match their night out at the theatre with dinner and show packages, or stop off before or after their event and try their luck on the gaming floor. In terms of dining the venue offers The GRILL Brasserie restaurant and there is a sports bar and a so-called “slushy” bar which serves up cocktails and frozen beverages. The casino has some of its own meetings spaces including the Déjà vu function room which can seat up to 400 delegates, and is adjacent to the National Convention Centre. Visit www.casinocanberra.com.au for further details.
Situated on the Breakwater Marina and overlooking Magnetic Island, Jupiters Townsville continues to be one of the region’s most popular destinations for conference groups and events. Jupiters Townsville has more than 20 gaming tables and 400 gaming machines spread across three floors. Its conference facilities are really where it comes into its own, with one of the largest convention spaces in tropical north Queensland. The pillarless ballroom can seat up to 750 delegates theatre-style and has its own purpose-built stage area. The ballroom is divisible into three but there are plenty of other spaces to choose from including the Coral Sea Room with views across to Magnetic Island, the Sunrise Room, overlooking the pool and gardens, the Boardroom, and more. The outdoor poolside terrace and lawn is popular for events in the great outdoors. The hotel has 194 accommodation rooms, each boasting Magnetic Island or Breakwater Marina views. Visit www.jupiterstownsville.com.au for further details.
If you’re planning an event in Perth it’s hard to go past the Burswood Entertainment Complex for not only facilities but entertainment options and activities. Burswood has a 24-hour casino, a huge range of award-winning restaurants and bars, leisure facilities including a world-class golf course and day spa, a convention centre, live entertainment venues, and plenty of accommodation in either the InterContinental Perth Burswood or Holiday Inn Burswood. Burswood has a plethora of meetings facilities for up to 20,000, and experienced staff who understand the nuances and demands of business events. Visit www.burswood.com.au for further details.
SKYCITY Darwin is said to provide the “total experience” for visitors with first-class boutique style accommodation, world-class gaming facilities, premier dining and luxury amenities as well as superior conference, banquet and entertainment facilities. The SKYCITY Darwin Hotel is described as a five-star “boutique hotel” with a variety of accommodation styles and configurations, three restaurants, bars, conference facilities and health club facilities. As well as indoor venues the property is home to a spectacular outdoor flat-grassed area that is regularly utilised for special events including awards nights and launches. Visit www.skycitydarwin.com.au for further details.
Skycity Adelaide is located in the heart of the city and caters exceptionally well to groups. The property has developed a team-building experience called “The Party Pit” where groups can experience all the excitement of learning to play popular casino games such as blackjack, roulette and the big wheel, using “funny money”. Groups need to be greater than 50 with prices starting at $36 per person which includes tuition on playing games, canapés and drinks. Skycity Adelaide is also home to a number of restaurants and bars including North, which offers a contemporary menu and impressive wine collection. Visit www.skycityadelaide.com.au for further details.
The Crown Entertainment Complex is one of the most impressive venues incorporating a casino in the country. A huge gaming floor, phenomenal dining experiences, great shopping, stylish accommodation, spa and recreational options, friendly service, and exceptional meetings facilities has seen Crown become one of the big winners in the business events and tourism industry in general. In late 2007 Crown Melbourne Limited announced it had sought planning and building approvals to construct the biggest hotel in Australia. To be built at a cost of $300 million, the proposed new hotel will be the third hotel in the Crown Entertainment Complex along with the award-winning, luxurious Crown Towers and business hotel - Crown Promenade Hotel. Visit www.crowncasino.com.au for further details.
Star City is New South Wales’ only casino and is described as Sydney’s premier 24 hour entertainment facility located at Darling Harbour and enjoying sweeping views of the harbour and city skyline. Star City has a huge TAB lounge and sports bar, Star Keno and 200 gaming tables. The gaming floor covers 145,000 square metres, and there are plans for expansion. With 19 restaurants and bars, Star City is said to have something for all appetites and tastes. The Star City Hotel and apartments are popular with conference groups and the odd celebrity. In late 2007 the venue played host to soccer legend David Beckham and his LA Galaxy team-mates. The venue is only a short walk from the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, however, certainly has some great conference facilities in its own right. Visit www.starcity.com.au for further details.
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