With the temperature dropping rapidly in the southern states, the Sunshine Coast’s warm, temperate climate remains steady in the low to mid-20 degrees C range. No jumpers up here thanks. Sure, you might need one after sunset but we’re not talking trench coats and parkers by any stretch of the imagination.
The Sunshine Coast, just an hour from Brisbane by road now, is truly a winter wonderland that really is tailor-made for meetings, incentives and events with the “wow” factor. And now is one of the best times of the year to take your group there.
Crisp, clear mornings make way for stunning days with bright sunshine. There are few places at this time of year where you can take your conference lunch outdoors, or sip pre-dinner drinks by the water without having to wear beanies, gloves, scarves and thermals. But that’s exactly what you can do on the Sunshine Coast, with many venues taking advantage of the great outdoors year-round, offering wide-open spaces with stunning views.
At the Hyatt Regency Coolum, for example, one of the destination’s premier venues for corporate meetings and special events, you can take your delegates into the great outdoors for a lunch event on the pristine golf course. Similarly, The Novotel Twin Waters, currently undergoing a multi-million dollar refurbishment, also offers plenty of great outdoor spaces that continue to be a hit with conference groups.
And then there’s the abundance of team-building options. You can really get your group out of their comfort zone by having them take part in a learn to surf class. Too cold you say? Like the air temperature, average water temperature is around 20 degrees C as well.
If that’s still a little scary, then why not get their heart rates up at the Big Kart Track for an authentic go-kart experience that can be as fun or as serious as your delegates want.
The Sunshine Coast has so much to offer the conference market. And its beauty is that everything is nearby and everything is possible. As Big Kart Track’s Ferre De Deyne explains, the Sunshine Coast really is a “can do” destination.
“We always say to our potential customers – we are the can-do destination – everything is here – beach life, casual resorts, hinterland, etcetera. We can put together whatever you want – just ask! What do you want? We can do it!
“We’re not the Gold Coast. The Sunshine Coast has its own character. You want action, you come to me, you want to relax, you can do that too.”
And now is the perfect time to visit the Sunshine Coast. Over the following pages we highlight some of the “winter specials” developed by the Sunshine Coast Convention Bureau in conjunction with its partners, as well as some of the latest venue news. Visit the bureau on www.sccb.net.au for further details on meetings on the Sunshine Coast.
 The Sunshine Coast Function Centre located at Caloundra opened in June, giving convention delegates yet another reason to visit this stunning destination.
Located in the heart of Caloundra, the Sunshine Coast Function Centre features spacious, flexible meeting rooms with a huge range of equipment and in-house audio visual specialists on-hand.
Features of this state-of-the-art centre include:
• The Diamond Room – with seating for 900 theatre-style or 500 for banquets
• Flexible meeting rooms with operable walls, divisible into six areas, each with its own private access
• A built-in stage and professional sound system, well suited for live entertainment
• Two built-in bars servicing guests both inside the auditorium and in the lobby area
• Direct access to the Caloundra RSL
• A stunning foyer area
The versatile venue can accommodate a range of events – from intimate board meetings to large conferences. Conference packages are all-inclusive and incorporate room hire, audio visual equipment and catering requirements.
Restaurants, bars and additional entertainment is available in the adjacent Caloundra RSL. Here delegates can choose from casual cafes, alfresco dining areas with modern, a la carte menus, or the intimate fine dining restaurant. The undercover alfresco area boasts a casual bar and café area, ideal for pre or post-function get-togethers.
For details visit www.sunshinecoastfunctioncentre.com.au.
 
If you like it not too hot and not too cold then the Sunshine Coast is beckoning. Minus the maddening crowds the Sunshine Coast has “got the lot” when it comes to meetings, incentives and special events. So here are some special deals that should whet your appetite and have you clambering to meet on the Sunshine Coast during the winter months.
Offering 223 hotel rooms, air-conditioned self-contained apartments and luxurious penthouses, this centrally-located property offers a residential conference package starting at just $140 per person per day, for a minimum of 25 people. The venue also has a great 60 metre lagoon-style pool, luxury day spa, gym, resort shop, poolside bar, restaurant, games room and direct access to Marcoola Beach.
The winter special includes accommodation, breakfast and lunch, morning and afternoon tea, conference room hire, screen and whiteboard, conference pads and pens, water and mints.
There are conditions to this deal, and the special is only valid until August 31, 2008.
T: (07) 5412 0100 E: surfair.reservations@wyndhamvrap.com
W: www.surfair.com.au
Located on the World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, Kingfisher Bay Resort offers stunning accommodation rooms and meetings facilities for up to 300 delegates. The property has conference packages starting from $190 per person per day. The base residential package is for a minimum of 25 people, twin share, and is not valid during advertised peak periods.
T: (07) 3032 2813 E: leonie_belbin@kingfisherbay.com
W: www.kingfisherbay.com
Hyatt Regency Coolum is another major player in the conference industry on the Sunshine Coast. Conference facilities can cater for up to 1000 delegates. A highlight of this venue is its golf course and its surrounding area often utilised for off-site events. The property is set on 150 hectares, ensuring delegates can get away from it all without leaving the resort.
Hyatt Coolum has day delegate packages starting from just $56 per person. Day delegate packages include a morning tea of freshly brewed coffee, herbal and black tea with homemade biscuits, a stand-up lunch from the sandwich buffet menus, afternoon tea of freshly brewed coffee, herbal and black tea with home-made biscuits and main plenary room hire. Conditions do apply.
T: (07) 5446 1234 E: sales.coolum@hyatt.com.au
W: www.coolum.regency.hyatt.com
The Events Centre has been described as the most versatile purpose-built meeting, conference, exhibition and entertainment centre on the Sunshine Coast. The Events Centre, located in Caloundra, has a $57 per person, per day special, based on a minimum of 20 delegates. This package includes freshly brewed coffee and tea on arrival,  morning tea with the chef’s selection of two morning tea items, freshly brewed coffee, tea and orange juice, a working lunch or buffet, afternoon tea, standard equipment hire, and full-day venue hire.
Conditions do apply so contact the venue for further details.
T: (07) 5491 4240
E: events@theeventscentre.com.au
W: www.theeventscentre.com.au
The Sheraton Noosa Resort & Spa is described as Noosa’s only five-star conference hotel, right in the heart of the action on Hastings Street. Offering 175 accommodation rooms and suites, more than 755 square metres of conference space, and the AQUA Day Spa, this is a great property in a great location.
This property offers room rates from $285 per room with a complimentary upgrade to a premium meeting package. This includes arrival tea and coffee, welcome fruit bowl on day one, morning and afternoon tea, working lunch or sit-down lunch, bottled soft drinks and juices with lunch, and plenary room hire.
This offer is for new business booked prior to the end of August 2008, and other conditions do apply.
T: (07) 5449 4888
E: noosa.events@sheraton.com
W: www.sheraton.com/noosa
The Novotel Twin Waters is one of the Sunshine Coast’s most popular resorts for conferences, offering facilities that can cater for up to 1000 delagates. The property has winter conference packages starting at just $125 per delegate per day.This includes overnight accommodation in a refurbished resort garden view room, full buffet breakfast in Zanths Restaurant, morning and afternoon teas, buffet lunch in Zanths Restaurant, meeting room hire and basic audio-visual.
There are conditions to this deal, and the special is only valid until August 31, 2008.
T: (07) 5448 8000 E: h1644-sb01@accor.com
W: www.twinwatersresort.com.au
Noosa Blue Resort has been described as Noosa’s most stylish boutique resort which combines all-suite accommodation with great conference facilities and wonderful food. Noosa Blue Resort has a special package that includes a free one-hour team development activity, complimentary one-hour cocktail party including beer, wine and tapas, and a 15 per cent discount for conference accommodation. This special deal is for a minimum of 20 delegates and a minimum of two nights.
T: (07) 5447 5699 E: info@noosablue.com.au
W: www.noosablue.com.au
Novotel Twin Waters Resort’s multi-million dollar accommodation and Zanths Restaurant refurbishment has now been completed! The stylish and modern refurbishment is designed to capture all elements of a true resort experience.
The “new look” rooms feature LCD flat screen TVs, broadband, and contemporary beds with triple sheet linen. On entering your room you will experience natural woods and soft colours that blend perfectly with the resort’s coastal environment. With generous sized suites the rooms are sure to suit all requirements. Zanths Restaurant is sylish, modern and contemporary with exciting new menus.
The conference facilities and services are a specialty at Novotel Twin Waters Resort. The professional conference and event team ensure all presentations are seamless. Events can range from a memorable gala dinner to a night as shipwrecked castaways on the lagoon beachside - the possibilities are endless. From a cocktail party for 1000 people, a boardroom meeting for 15 executive managers, trade exhibitions of 40 booths, to a plenary session for 500 delegates, Novotel Twin Waters Resort has the ideal conference and special event solution with seven meeting rooms and multiple outdoor event locations onsite. For further details visit www.twinwatersresort.com.au or call 1800 072 277.
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