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While the most overused adjective to describe a venue is without doubt unique, the fact of the matter is that this is what event planners want. As meetings and events continue to gain importance for corporations and associations, it is logical therefore to believe that more are being held annually. The more events there are the greater the desire to create a point of difference from one to the other. And that’s where unique venues come in. In the UK, almost one in five of all facilities registered with the British Association of Conference Destinations are classified as unique venues. This equates to 440 conference destinations, a number which is believed to be on the increase.
Australian Institute of Sport
Inspirational, motivational and exceptional are just three words commonly used to describe the Australian Institute of Sport. Only minutes from Canberra’s city centre, the AIS boasts more than 12 event venues and an experienced events and catering team, ensuring that your next event is one to remember.
The versatile venues at the AIS are easily themed for any function, and of course being the home of Australian sport, sports-themed events are a speciality. Your next gala dinner, cocktail party or corporate incentive can include special guest speakers from the AIS – including AIS athletes, coaches, sports scientists and more.
One of the more unique venues at the AIS was recently transformed by Rocket Events Services, as the AIS hosted a Canberra Convention Bureau networking night for in excess of 100 local event planners and organisers. Usually used by the institute’s next generation of Socceroos, the indoor synthetic field became an intimate and amazing cocktail venue, as guests mingled with bureau members and AIS athletes and staff.
Kingpin Bowling
For something completely different for your group event check out Kingpin, which is said to offer a bowling experience unlike any other. Kingpin centres are located in Darling Harbour, the Crown Entertainment Complex and Richmond, Victoria.
Kingpin offers fully licensed bars, top music, disco lighting, pool tables and sports telecasts, and caters exceptionally well for groups.
Kingpin Darling Harbour offers guests 20 state-of-the-art-bowling lanes, indoor laser skirmish, a fully licensed bar, gourmet food and beverage packages, spectacular harbour views, private function areas, and the latest music, pool tables and interactive games. It can comfortably hold up to 500 guests.
Kingpin Crown offers 15 state-of-the-art bowling lanes, private function areas, two fully licensed bars, great food and beverage packages, and the latest music, disco lighting and pool tables!
Kingpin Richmond has 10 state-of-the-art bowling lanes, a fully licensed bar, function areas, arcade games, X-Bar (sports bar), and can comfortably hold up to 350 guests.
For those seeking a little more adrenalin-charged excitement Kingpin’s M9 Laser Skirmish experience may be just the ticket.
Each game of M9 runs for 25 minutes and includes a five minute briefing, 15 minutes of actual play time and a five minutes de-briefing where each guest receives a printed score card or their individual performance. Maximum capacity is 36 people and a game can be played with two or three teams.
Visit www.kingpinbowling.com.au for further details on what’s available.
Brisbane’s unique venues
Brisbane’s best venues and business events suppliers have been celebrated in a hot-off-the-press publication produced by the meeting and event experts at Brisbane Marketing’s Convention Bureau. The 2008 Brisbane Unique Venues Guide is said to be the premier insider guide to the city’s most elegant and unusual venues, event spaces and service suppliers.
Brisbane Marketing chief executive officer, John Aitken, joined Emporium Hotel general manager, Peter Savoff, to celebrate the launch of the guide at an intimate gathering staged amid the chandeliers, antique glass and eclectic design aesthetics of the Emporium Hotel.
“This guide is the ultimate collection of venues and event spaces that are special to Brisbane,” Mr Aitken said at the launch.
“It’s a unique initiative of Brisbane Marketing and to our knowledge we’re the only convention bureau in Australia to produce a stand-alone Unique Venues Guide.
“Brisbane Marketing is very proud of the quality of this publication and the 80+ unique venues within it. From the Emporium Hotel to the Gallery of Modern Art to Eagle Farm Racecourse to Brisbane City Hall, the venues featured in our guide all share a common thread; they offer event organisers a memorable space and an ambience that is unique and distinct.”
Emporium Hotel’s Peter Savoff said he was thrilled Brisbane Marketing had honoured the hotel with the front cover and inside front cover spread.
“It’s a great compliment to be showcased on the cover of such a well-respected industry publication and as one of the newcomers to Brisbane’s hotel sector this is a great opportunity for us to profile our facilities to the meeting and business community,” he said. To obtain a copy of the 2008 Brisbane Unique Venues Guide telephone (07) 3006 6200 or email conventionbureau@brisbanemarketing.com.au for further details.
 CLV Smart Stays
In a first for Australia and New Zealand, Campus Living Villages launched what it is calling a “revolutionary service” that offers group accommodation solutions for as little as $58.
The clv smart stays service uses student campuses in eight CBD and regional locations throughout Australia and New Zealand. Each village provides a flexible range of conference and meeting rooms, catering services, office support and access to state-of-the-art sporting and leisure facilities.
clv smart stays operates from November to February each year. Locations include:
Sydney University Village
Macquarie University Village
RMIT Village Old Melbourne
Griffith University Village
Campus living villages (Kelvin Grove, Brisbane)
Murdoch University Village
University of Canberra Village
Canterbury University Village
Key features include a safe, secure village style atmosphere, with each village having a range of facilities including village greens, volleyball courts, tennis courts, swimming pools, games and sporting equipment. Flexible accommodation options range from single rooms with shared bathrooms to studios with ensuites, right up to five-bedroom apartments.
Operations director of clv smart stays, Tim Weston, says the service has been tailored to meet the needs of groups wanting outstanding conference, sporting and recreational facilities without the high price tag.
“Until now, they have been forced to use expensive hotels if they want access to a range of facilities. However, the introduction of clv smart stays has changed that,” he said.
For further details visit www.clvsmartstays.com, call toll free on 1300 30 88 45, or email info@clvsmartstays.com.
Q Station restoration complete
Q Station, the former historic Quarantine Station five minutes from Manly on Sydney’s northern beaches and a nationally listed historic site, has undergone a careful $18 million restoration process and now offers unique accommodation and meetings space. The property’s features include:
82 bedrooms with the original style maintained and a capacity of 120 people in function rooms.
Seven conference rooms flooded with natural light, timber floors and breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour and the surrounding bushland.
The Boilerhouse Restaurant offering modern Australian cuisine.
A range of group activities available including storytelling tours that give a historic dimension as well as making them relevant to today an interactive immersion theatre, kayaking, snorkelling and walking tours.
Visit www.qstation.com.au for further details.
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