Whether it is being built, or booming with business, in this feature we look at the latest updates from convention and exhibition centres from Asia to New Zealand.
This far north convention centre has recently taken on the nation with a roadshow around Australia which swept through Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane with 18 representatives of local operators in tow! The annual roadshow is organised by the Cairns Convention Centre and is an opportunity for local representatives from a diverse range of business event products the chance to meet with more than 250 clients and event organisers to discuss meeting possibilities. And feedback from this roadshow has been positive. Peter Crawford, committee member of the International Confederation of Principals said it was helpful to meet all organisations in one venue.
“The event helped assure me that Cairns is the right destination for the 2013 World Congress,” he said.
This purpose-built centre has international standard meeting facilities which have the capability to host exhibitions, banquets and conventions for anything from 200 to 5000 delegates. It is said to have an innovative, flexible and functional design, while still being an architectural beauty. This building has been voted one of the world’s top 10 international convention centres by the North American Meeting Planners at the annual USA ‘Beyond Borders Survey’, and it’s easy to see why this convention centre is a favourite for some international delegates.
Nestled in Tropical Far North Queensland, this Cairns centre has many drawcards for international and domestic conventions and exhibitions. Who would be able to resist going to a conference as well as being in a destination where you can explore World Heritage-listed rainforest and snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef? For more information of the services available go to www.cairnsconventioncentre.com.au.
Still in the northern part of Australia, the biggest news from the Northern Territory is the further development of the Darwin Convention Centre. This centre is due for completion mid-year and is sure to be a new contender for domestic and international conventions and exhibitions. The DCC is said to be the architectural showpiece of the one billion dollar development of the Darwin waterfront. Even though this centre still has a few more months of construction, according to the centre’s general manager Malu Barrios there is already big business on the books.
“In partnership with the Northern Territory Convention Bureau, over 35 national, international and regional events have been confirmed to be held at the Darwin Convention Centre and that means over 20,000 additional visitors and their families will converge on the region alone,” she said.
Another notable event booked in for this centre will be the National Insurance Brokers Association, who has planned to hold its annual conference here later this year.
The centre spans a total floor area of 22,900 square metres with a selection of conference, exhibition and function facilities. These are broken up into the auditorium, which can seat 1500 delegates in tiered theatre-style, and four halls with an area of 4000 square metres that can host 225 exhibition booths or 3000 guest banquet style. And the facilities don’t stop there. The centre also has the Waterfront room that can cater for 630 guests theatre-style, or 420 banquet-style, as well as meeting rooms that can be divided into two or four rooms and can hold 70 to 170 delegates theatre-style.
For more information on the newest convention centre in Australia go to www.darwinconventioncentre.com.au.
Further a field, this convention centre in Malaysia is making its mark for cost efficient conventions. Announced at AIME this year, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre has adopted an Ambassador Program as a retention strategy which has proven successful, reporting a staff turnover of less than five percent.
In addition to this, the KLCC is offering a unique selling proposition for touring options which are said to work out 40 percent cheaper than neighbouring destinations.
As well as having happy staff and cheap deals, this convention centre has also recently reported on dramatic growth for 2007. According to the centre the highest growth in terms of events was recorded in entertainment at 50 percent, followed by exhibitions at 39 percent and banquet and functions at 33 per cent.
The KLCC also reported on being the only centre in this industry in Malaysia to be audited for the Food Safety, Quality, Environmental, Safety and Health Management System and is now not only certified, but has benchmark status to the Green Globe Company standard.
Still looking at convention centres internationally, one of our neighbours is going green and not just talking about it. The Wellington Convention Centre is joining many other centres in making an effort to be more environmentally friendly. As some of you may have been aware, this year’s AIME at the Melbourne Convention Centre also made an effort to be carbon neutral, and it seems to be a continuing trend.
One of the measures the WCC has taken as an ongoing commitment is to its environmental accreditation, removing all plastic bottles from its venues and opting to use glass bottles or bio-degradable cups instead. In addition to this, the team in Wellington have installed water coolers in all rooms so that delegates can refill their bottles as required.
According to the centre it is working with a mantra of “take responsibility today”, and with this in mind is aiming to reduce and offset the carbon footprint of its three buildings. To keep this process going they are also helping organisers who use the venue to do the same, and are already taking steps in making their events green, and opting to use energy efficient lighting and appliances, food waste composting and recycling. For more details about this green centre go to www.wellingtonconventioncentre.com.
The Adelaide Convention Centre is also being more environmentally friendly by launching “Go for Green” conference packages. The packages will include the supply of renewable energy, food sourced from local producers to reduce transport pollution, as well as the option of paying a 50 cent per plate levy to offset delegates’ carbon emissions.
According to the centre’s chief executive Alex Gilbert, the Adelaide Convention Centre is aiming to become the most environmentally responsible convention centre in the nation.
“Promoting a green convention centre in a green city is a powerful combination, further establishing Adelaide’s reputation as Australia’s convention city,” he said. Other news at this convention centre is that its new Riverbank Lawn area has become a popular place for a number of conference organisers who, according to the centre, are booking this unique space to enhance their event. This additional venue at the centre has already been host to cocktail parties, barbecues and themed events, as well as marquee dinners of about 1000 guests. This spot on the grass was trialled last year for the Police and Fire Games as the Games Village and since then the site has been improved with paving, levelling and a new staircase from the centre to the lawn.
For more information about the facilities available go to www.adelaidecc.com.au.
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