Since the completion of Qualia the Whitsundays continues to reinvent itself as a beauty for business tourism events.
The long-awaited Qualia resort opened in October last year and has already played host to a couple of sole use groups, which according to the resort ran very smoothly and received positive feedback from the guests.
Qualia offers delegates a completely luxurious experience with 60 elegant private one-bedroom pavilions, two infinity pools and two restaurants. Guests can also enjoy Spa Qualia, as well as the state-of-the-art gym and yoga centre. For those with inquisitive minds this resort provides a two-seater golf buggy, so that guests can explore the rest of the island in style and comfort.
Qualia, which has Latin origins meaning ‘a truly sensorial experience’, is considered an exclusive world-class luxury resort and is said to provide domestic and international delegates with a new reason to look at the Whitsundays for their next lavish event.
 For those intrigued by this latest addition to the premium end of the Australian accommodation market, Qualia will be heading to AIME in Melbourne, so keep an eye out for a mock-up of one of the rooms, as well as samples of luxurious creams and bubbly.
Continuing to reinvent itself, another part of the Whitsundays is under construction with Australia’s first island golf course, to be located on Hamilton. After a lengthy approval process, work on the course has commenced and promises to be one of the most scenic golf games you’ll play with incredible sea views from most holes.
The 18-hole layout has been designed by Peter Thomson, and is said to potentially be up there with the best courses around the world. Thomson has been called Australia’s best golfer having won five British Open titles, and with many other big wins under his belt, is considered an expert course designer and commentator.
This, his latest offering, will suit resort golfers while also being challenging for professionals. The course will be built over an area covering 11 kilometres which will include a round-trip buggy path to the southern tip of Hamilton Island. The development will also include a clubhouse and a range of luxury homes and villas. Located just a few minutes’ boat ride from Hamilton Island, golfers will be able to get on the greens in no time. The course is expected to be completed by the end of this year and will make the Whitsundays a destination that is a complete package for delegates.
Awards and more
There’s even more construction in the Whitsundays than the odd golf course with other resorts renovating amenities, and Hamilton Island is no exception. This island has an ongoing refurbishment program, with work already undertaken on the general store, Whitsundays Holiday Apartments reception, as well as new carpet for four areas of the resort. This work is said to ensure that Hamilton Island is upgraded to provide guests with a world- class experience. The final stage of this program has just commenced with refurbishment of the Reef View Hotel, beginning on level eight and working down from there.
The Whitsundays continues to win awards and most recently the Hamilton Island conventions department won the competitive Business Tourism category for last year’s Queensland Tourism Awards.
Hamilton Island executive general manager, Craig Davidson, said it was a huge honour for the passionate and creative staff, who facilitate conferences and events on the island every day of the week.
“In the hospitality industry, we regularly talk about the ‘wow factor’ where we aim to delight our guests, but our ethos on Hamilton Island is to extend this wow to also mean ‘the wonder of the Whitsundays’ and we make sure we inject an experience of our magnificent region with every conference or function we stage,” Mr Davidson said.
This team is now in the running for the National Tourism Awards and will join other state winners shortly in Canberra for the all-important deciding ceremony.
Another award-winning destination in the Whitsundays is Hayman, where guests are treated to a unique luxury experience. The conference facilities alone provide event planners with a smorgasbord of options for their next function. Whether it is a conference, meeting or incentive this resort can cater for a small group or a large event for 300 guests theatre-style. The resort facilities include the Conference Centre, Entertainment Centre, break-out rooms and outdoor resort locations. Organisers can even hire out the whole island for an exclusive touch. Hayman is also the perfect destination to reward those on your team who have been working hard with an incentive trip. Your staff can live in the lap of luxury by making the most of what the resort has to offer, including rejuvenating spa treatments and fine cuisine.
 Very few conference locations in Australia can compete with the stunning position of the Nautilus Room at Coral Sea Resort – the gateway to the Whitsundays.
Coral Sea Resort, in the exclusive seaside enclave of Airlie Beach, positioned on paradise point, and is an oasis of luxury and tranquillity just moments via seaside boardwalk to the enchanting Airlie Beach resort village that abounds with shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. This deluxe award winning resort is situated just 30 minutes from two major domestic airports.
An ideal venue for groups, incentives, special events and conferences, Coral Sea Resort boasts extensive conference and meeting facilities, unique breakout terraces and state of the art audio visual equipment.
Ph +61 7 4964 1341 E kara@coralsearesort.com
W www.coralsearesort.com
On the Whitsundays coast
Closer to the shore-line yet still in the Whitsundays, Airlie Beach is expecting a million-dollar boost to its business tourism market with the addition of a new four-star residential resort in the town centre.
The Santai Airlie Beach resort is set to expand the Whitsundays experience by effectively being a base for guests to explore the area, as well as providing delegates with event and meeting facilities. The development will include a state-of-the-art 400 delegate convention centre, day spa, wellness centre and gym, as well as a library. The resort will also include two hectares of Balinese gardens, pool lagoons, restaurants and bars, as well as a kids’ club. The $135 million-dollar Santai development is being constructed by luxury developer Resort Corp. Set to open next year it will provide a unique Balinese feel to Airlie Beach’s town centre.
Still with a focus on Airlie Beach, the Coral Sea Resort claims to make your dream conference or event a reality with the combination of dedicated staff and unique resort facilities. This award-winning resort is only 30 minutes from the airport and has a selection of facilities delegates will love. This four-storey resort is surrounded with lush tropical gardens and rooms are decked out with a nautical feel, featuring tiled lounges and cane furnishings.
There is an array of event facilities which includes the Nautilus room which, with ocean views, has the capability to entertain 200 delegates theatre-style and 300 cocktail-style. When organising a meeting or event, the conference team have thought of everything down to notepads, pens, and even mints are included in the hire fee. This resort also offers a ‘day delegate package’, which includes the Nautilus room hire, morning and afternoon tea, lunch, use of audio-visual equipment, stationary and room set up.
The Coral Sea Resort also offers a vast selection of team-building activities which include parasailing, brain teasers and jet ski races which are all designed to be motivating, educational, mentally and physically challenging as well as entertaining and fun.
If you have something more relaxing in mind for your team, the resort also offers yoga chi gong refreshers, which are said to be 30 minute mind, body and soul refreshers which will ensure that your delegates are in the right frame of mind. These sessions are available before, during and after your conference. If your team is in need of a celebration at the end of a conference, why not consider a themed event. This resort caters for all your needs by providing a special touch to a gala dinner, awards ceremony or anniversary. Some of the suggestions on offer include’ Nemo Under The Sea’ and ‘Jane of the Jungle’ or simply a ‘Tropical Whitsundays Sunset’ theme.
Delegates can admire the sea views from their rooms as the Coral Sea Resort offers unique 280 degrees of absolute ocean front, boutique style accommodation in this tropical resort.
 Club Med Lindeman Island is the perfect destination for your next conference or incentive group. The combination of all-inclusive packages, great team building activities and relaxed island atmosphere will have everyone talking about this event for years to come. Your all-inclusive package includes:
• Conference facilities for up to 200 people
• Accommodation & three sumptuous meals a day
• Unlimited wine, beer and soft drink with lunch and dinner
• Unique “Rent an Island” concept with complete exclusivity of
the resort
• Sporting activities with expert tuition
• Kids club facilities (2-13 years)
For further information visit www.business.clubmed.com.au or contact our Account Executives on 1800 686 289.
 Fantasea Adventure Cruising is the largest day cruise operator in the Whitsunday region with a fleet of nine air conditioned high speed catamarans, Fantasea Adventure Cruising offers delegates and incentive groups a diverse range of day and luxury overnight options visiting the “must see” destinations in the Whitsunday Islands and the world Heritage Great Barrier Reef with a high emphasis on personalised service and great team building activities. Visiting iconic destinations such as Whitehaven Beach which is one of the top ten beaches in the world, Hamilton Island, Daydream Island, Long Island and of course visiting Reefworld on the Great Barrier Reef. This will be an experience your delegates will remember with Fantasea Adventure Cruising!
For further information please contact Fantasea Adventure Cruising
Ph +61 7 4946 5811 E: Corporate-Groups@fantasea.com.au
W: www.fantasea.com.au
Into the blue
Another Airlie Beach resort that makes the most of the Coral Sea view is the Blue Horizon. This resort is said to be an ideal venue for small to medium sized meetings and conferences. The Blue Horizon provides delegates with a purpose-built conference room overlooking the resort waterfall and surrounding islands. Some of the facilities include the Waterfall Room, which can cater for up to 65 delegates theatre-style and offers state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment to ensure that presentations run smoothly. This facility has the flexibility to morph from board meeting, to conference, to cocktail function by the pool. After a long day of networking delegates can retreat to the Balinese style apartments, with wide balconies, stunning water views and sea breeze making it the perfect spot to get away.
Offshore from Airlie Beach, among the Whitsundays’ 74 islands you will find the tropical oasis of Club Med Lindeman Island. Set in more than 600 hectares of World Heritage National Park you can retreat into secluded bays, beaches and rainforests abundant with tropical flora and fauna.
This island offers a breathtaking backdrop for any event. Club Med Lindeman Island offers a unique package with the “Totally All Inclusive” (TAI) concept. This concept makes event planning easier by offering an open bar facility and all day snacking to eliminate the cost of cocktail functions and pre-dinner drinks. This means that everything can be budgeted for before you leave the office as one package price. However, if a more tailored event is what your group requires, Club Med can come to the party and organise your function, whether it’s a small meeting or a “rent a village” for 400 people.
Voyages Brampton Island is an ideal location for conference and incentive participants with an array of natural attractions and activities that will impress delegates. Guests will find this island captivating with the lush tropical national park and clear blue lapping water, inviting for a refreshing swim. Brampton has 12 beaches that can be found off national park walking trails and just offshore there is a range of reefs where an amazing marine world of fish and coral can be explored.
Voyages offer a unique tropical experience for delegates, with function facilities such as the Blue Room which can cater for meetings of up to 50 guests. The room has panoramic views of the ocean and surrounding islands. This resort can organise events specifically for your needs and offers an array of event options including a Barefoot Beach BBQ lunch, themed dinners or giant beach picnics at Turtle Bay. Voyages can also cater for smaller groups where delegates can participate in private jet ski safaris, and vessels can be chartered for fishing and snorkelling trips.
Another Whitsundays attraction is the Fantasea Adventure Cruises which is considered the largest day cruise operator in the area. With a fleet of high-speed catamarans guests can enjoy the tropical journey in air-conditioned comfort. These cruises come in a range of packages and offer access the outer Great Barrier Reef as well as the Whitsunday Islands. Fantasea is said to be a market leader in conference and incentive events and staff promise to put on an unforgettable show that will be a memorable experience for delegates.
For further information on these destinations go to
www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au
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