When you pull up a chair in Geelong for a chat on the local business tourism product the chances are that the chair is probably brand new, and the talk lively and informative. It seems that every way you turn in Geelong and the Great Ocean Road region of Victoria, there is something there that you haven’t seen before.
A strong 2007 in infrastructure growth and new product has continued in 2008, along with a growing calendar of events and conferences.
According to Geelong Otway Tourism, the destination, one hour south-west of Melbourne, is increasingly attracting a larger share of meetings business and events both from the Melbourne corporate market, national, and international association markets, thanks to a growing inventory of quality venues and new product and easy access by air, rail, road and ferry.
In 2007/2008, the region has secured some fabulous new major sporting events and business events for 2008, 2009 and 2010 that will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors, both interstate and international, to the region. Indeed, in the next few years, Geelong and the surrounding regions will be hosting major sporting events such as Skandia Geelong Week (Jan 08,09,10), the Australian Masters Games (Feb 2009), Airshow 2009 (March 09) and the UCI World Road Cycling Championships (Sep/Oct 10), which are already having a huge impact on the region, especially in raising the profile on an international stage, and bringing in many related conferences around these events.
With an ever growing events and conference calendar, the region has also seen an amazing growth of new large scale investments into new conference resorts and upgrades on existing conference properties over the past few years. In 2007/08 the region has seen the opening of new conference and event properties including:
Peppers Sands Resort Torquay (October 2007)
Crowne Plaza Resort Torquay (March 2008)
Apollo 169 Resort – Apollo Bay (Dec 2007)
Wool Exchange Geelong (Dec 2007)
Chifley on the Esplanade Geelong (May 2007)
Mantra Deep Blue, Warrnambool (May 2007)
Hawthorn Suites @ 13th Beach, Barwon Heads (early 2007)
According to Geelong Otway Tourism, the Geelong and Great Ocean Road region’s boom is being spurred on by the fact that it is now even easier to get to the destination, especially for delegates coming from Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
 Jetstar now flies daily from Australia’s major Australian cities to Avalon Airport which is just 15 minutes from Geelong.
If coming from interstate or internationally via Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport, the region is only one hour’s drive and serviced by regular airport shuttles into Geelong.
If coming by road or the “carbon neutral” option of train, the region is less than an hour’s traveling time from the Victorian capital of Melbourne. Good roads and train systems also connect with other major provincial centres. The region is also accessible by sea with the Sorrento Queenscliff Ferry connecting east and west Victoria.
The recent announcement by the Fox Group that a $30 million international terminal at Avalon Airport will be built to cater to the increasing international airline requirements into Victoria has also seen increasing interest by business clients and investors into the region.
According to Carine Bourcier, former conference and incentive travel manager for Geelong Otway Tourism, with a conference calendar growing in leaps and bounds, the region really has attracted a number of large scale investments into new conference resorts and upgrades on existing conference properties over the past few years.
“We also have some fabulous new supporting product to make sure any conference is a success. We have a number of new teambuilding and event companies that give that extra something to a business event – ie Jetset Conference Geelong - event management & travel, and Big Stick Adventures and Both Feet - team building extra-ordinaires!
“There has been significant growth in the conference and business sector in the Geelong Otway region facilitated by Geelong Otway Tourism, with ‘tourists in suits’ accounting for $47.7 million in expenditure in 2006/07.”
In Geelong and The Great Ocean Road region, plenty.
The Crowne Plaza Torquay opened last month (March), and has been described as the latest in modern style for the Victorian surf coast.
With its beachfront location overlooking Zeally Bay, the hotel blends seamlessly with the natural beauty of this classic Australian seaside town. At only 90 minutes’ drive from Melbourne, Crowne Plaza Torquay is poised to become the newest destination of choice for those looking to hold upmarket conferences and events.
The hotel is said to feature the most extensive dedicated meeting facilities of any hotel in the area with five interchangeable spaces measuring more than 460 square metres and offering stunning views over Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean.
The first floor comprises enviable conference facilities overlooking the ocean.
Four Points by Sheraton Geelong is the premier 4.5 star hotel located on Geelong’s vibrant waterfront. Not only does it offer extensive meetings facilities, great accommodation rooms, and stunning vistas, the property really is taking the whole “unwind, refresh and relax” concept to a new level.
The experience begins right at the door with a newly appointed doorman whose role is to help “uncomplicate” guest arrivals.
Once inside, a new water feature, soft music and the subtle scent of home-style cooking should further add to the sensory experience. Is that apple cinnamon you can smell? You bet… It’s the Four Points’ new signature scent.
Four Points by Sheraton Geelong offers a Feel Good Treats program that focuses on a selection of freshly baked sweet and savoury pies. Choose to wash your pie down with a nice hot coffee, or as Bryan Dennis, general manager at Four Points says, “Have a successful business trip and then get down to the business of relaxing with one of our Best Brews beers from around the world or around the corner.”
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