It’s hard to go beyond the fact that the majority of Australians live along the coastline or within minutes of water, and venues that feature H2O have proven to be a popular choice for event planners. Whether it’s the lapping of the sea and ocean views or constructed features such as pools, fountains or lagoons, water adds something special to the atmosphere of an event.
Below are some of the latest, greatest and spectacular venues that make for great water-side events:
Swiss-Grand Resort & Spa Bondi
Bondi is renowned around the world as the beach bum capital of Australia and many tourists consider this stretch of sand a famous icon. As far as business events are concerned this beachside Sydney suburb provides an array of possibilities.
The local Swiss-Grand offers plenty of business event solutions, with function rooms that are suitable for anything from corporate conferences to gala dinners. Having recently been taken over by Accor, this landmark coastal hotel is said to be the only international-standard resort at Bondi Beach.
The new owners have said they will manage the Swiss-Grand under its current name and the only thing to change will be some renovations. Accor’s vice president in Australia, Simon McGrath, said plans are being developed for some soft upgrading of rooms and function areas.
“We will be looking to introduce other new initiatives in facilities and services over the next few months,” he said.
The Swiss-Grand offers a unique experience with resort-style accommodation and facilities, nestled in the heart of bustling Bondi. Located within close proximity to the beach, restaurants and great shopping, this venue would be perfect for a conference or meeting as delegates can work, stay and be entertained all in the one place.
The property has a total of 203 rooms, and a range of its large suites have private balconies with panoramic views across the beach. The Swiss-Grand also offers a selection of function facilities which include a ballroom, meeting and board rooms. There is also an exclusive rooftop reception venue, the Bellevue Terrace, which offers breathtaking beach views. Guests can also make the most of the resort’s rooftop swimming pool and Samsara day spa, which offers Balinese massage and spa treatments. For more information go to www.swissgrand.com.au.
Medina Executive Wollongong
This historically industrial hub may be home to metal smelting factories, however over the last few years “The Gong” has changed to make the most of the sun, sand and surf. This coastal city has seen an increase in visitor numbers in recent times and has reinvented itself as a tourism, lifestyle and meetings location.
General manager of Tourism Wollongong, Greg Binskin, says visitor numbers rose steadily as a result of the completion of the Sea Cliff Bridge on the spectacular drive from Sydney.
“Suddenly we had a new emblem, which we used to set up Grand Pacific Drive, a new coastal driving route that would spread the bridge’s popularity right along the coast,” he said.
The Medina Apartment Hotel will no doubt benefit from Wollongong’s growing popularity (due for opening in late January 2008). The hotel can cater for all things business events, with facilities for boardroom meetings, small meetings, seminars as well as functions. The hotel promises a personalised service where “no meeting is too small and no request too difficult”.
The property is located in heart of the city and just minutes away from the beach, restaurants and bars. It has a range of meeting facilities including three conference rooms with the capacity to cater for up to 110 guests theatre-style. The Medina also provides guests with 71 studio and one-bedroom apartments, gym and swimming pool. This will be the fifth international standard hotel to open in Wollongong in two years and will boost to more than 400 new rooms already added to the range of accommodation in the area.
Manly
Another iconic part of Sydney, this beachside suburb boasts a range of venues making the most of the coastal views. The Manly Pacific Sydney certainly provides a venue with a view, being situated directly opposite the beach. Located just 30 minutes’ ferry ride from Sydney’s CBD this hotel offers extensive conference facilities, more than 200 accommodation rooms, restaurant and bars, roof-top swimming pool, spa, sauna and gym.
Currently the hotel has commenced the first stage of a redevelopment program to upgrade the bar area. The two bars located on the ground level of the hotel will be renovated to become a multi-purpose bar and bistro area. The renovation will extend to the first and second floors, where the first floor will be home to a function space which will be able to cater for up to 70 guests for dinner or almost double that cocktail-style. The second floor will be transformed into a cocktail lounge making the most of the captivating ocean views. The hotel’s general manager, Karen Sainsbury, said the team are looking forward to the new developments.
“The bars will be a great addition to the hotel but will also create some amazing space for pre/post conference dinner drinks or cocktail parties for those who choose to hold events here,” she said.
Recently the hotel was recognised for its efficient water usage at the Sustainable Business Awards. Prized with the Water Use Management Award, this achievement recognised the hotel’s business management practices at a social, economic and environmental level. The hotel achieved this by implementing a water saving initiative and managed to save more than seven million litres per year. The staff were educated on water saving techniques, as well as the implementation of a “cleaning without chemicals” practice that managed to significantly reduce water pollution. The hotel installed water saving showerheads in almost 200 guestrooms, water saving rinse guns in the kitchen, water saving urinals and ozone technology for the laundry and kitchen grease traps, which have proven to be a greener way to reduce sewer blockages and spills.
In conjunction with this initiative, the hotel has also implemented a range of other environmental upgrades which saw the replacement of more than 1300 globes with energy efficient ones, reducing lighting costs up to 80 per cent. To book your next event here go to www.manlypacificsydney.com.au.
Couran Cove Island Resort
Continuing with the green theme, Couran Cove Island Resort claims to provide “guilt-free conferences” by being environmentally friendly. Many companies are now looking at their impact on global warming and this can be a factor for event planners choosing a destination for their next business function.
This resort is located on one of the world’s few naturally occurring sand islands and is considered to be an industry leader in eco-tourism, as well as a unique conference destination. Located just 40 minutes’ ferry ride from Stradbroke Island off Queensland’s Gold Coast, this property offers a relaxed environment and peaceful surrounds. The resort provides a skilled team to help organise your conference, incentive or event and have co-ordinators who specialise in themed events.
The conference facilities include a collection of rooms to choose from, with the biggest being the Olympic Room. This venue, built over the water, has spectacular views of the marina and lagoon, and with floor-to-ceiling glass walls is bathed in natural light. There are eight meeting rooms on offer at this resort, which can cater for up to 300 people. There is also a fully-equipped business centre and facilitated team-building programs.
The construction of the resort is based on “green architecture” where the use of louvered windows and skylights means that this resort uses less energy than other island resort accommodation. Delegates can retreat in eco-friendly comfort as Couran Cove offers waterfront hotel style deluxe rooms and suites as well as two-bedroom waterfront lodges and four-bedroom villas. And with more than 100 activities available at the resort it is said to be a popular place for delegates and tourists. For more information go to www.couran.com.
Sea World Whale Tours
If planning a business event on the Gold Coast, why not incorporate some water dwelling mammals in your schedule. The Gold Coast offers a myriad of hotels and resorts as well as theme parks which provide an extensive selection of function facilities.
Why not make your business trip unique by incorporating a whale watching tour. The humpback whales splash past this part of the Queensland coastline from June to November on their annual migration.
Recently Village Roadshow Limited and New Zealand based company Whale Watch Kaikoura joined forces to bring a new tour to the Gold Coast. This tour will be facilitated through Sea World, which has been working with marine mammals in this part of the world for more than 30 years.
This tour is due to commence mid-year, at the start of the whale-watching season, and promises to introduce a new level of education and entertainment to the remarkable experience of getting up close and personal with these great mammals. Guests will be able to board the $3.4 million state-of-the-art whale watching vessel, which can comfortably carry 100 passengers.
Both companies are dedicated to providing a superior whale watching experience, while carefully managing the surrounding natural marine environment. This unique tour promises to make a business trip a memorable experience for delegates. To get more details go to www.seaworld.com.au.
Luna Park
For a different take on a meeting or function near the water, why not consider Sydney’s Luna Park for a fun themed event. With envious harbour views this famous faced amusement park offers more than just a ferris wheel and flashing lights. The facilities here vary from ballroom to brasserie and provide a unique flair for events. The Crystal Ballroom can cater for 300 guests banquet-style or 600 for an exclusive cocktail reception. This room has state-of-the-art audio visual technology, superb acoustics and pillarless panoramic views of Sydney Harbour including the Opera House, city and Harbour Bridge. The room also extends onto a 15-metre wide deck which would be suitable for cocktails or pre-dinner drinks, where guests can quench their thirst and soak in the famous views. Luna Park has more rooms to offer for functions so for more information go to www.lunaparksydney.com.
Rydges Capricorn Resort
If a coral reef coastline, the sound of lapping waves and sunshine sounds like an appealing setting for your next business event, consider Rydges Capricorn Resort.
Located on the Tropic of Capricorn and just 30 minutes from the Queensland city of Rockhampton, this coastal destination has been called a mini-Kakadu, as it features sub-tropical rainforest and the warm tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef.
The resort provides nine conference facilities and has the capability to cater for six to 600 delegates. The team at this resort also offer a diverse range of themed events as well as team-building opportunities. Rydges Capricorn also has a new team-building facility which is said to be able to unlock the enormous potential of individuals and groups. In conjunction with these facilities, delegates can make the most of the surrounding beaches, bush tracks and wetlands. The resort also offers two international golf courses, stylish dining, a myriad of free activities, as well as water sports, horse riding, wetland tours and rainforest canoeing tours.
New daily flights from Sydney are planned to commence early this year, which will mean delegates can arrive at this tropical destination in just less than two hours. The resort is said to have a focus on business events and the team have planned new products that will be released in the coming months. This will include the new exhibition centre, new conference facilities at the Blackwater International Coal Centre, as well as new hotel accommodation developments. Go to www.rydges.com/capricorn for more details.
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