The Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau is gunning for more business and a desire to capitalise on a groundswell of support for the business events sector from business and government, with the ultimate aim of breaking into the top 10 of convention centre cities.
SCVB managing director, Jon Hutchison, spoke of the strategy at the IMEX exhibition in Frankfurt recently, believing the “stars had come into alignment” during the past six months as business and political leaders united behind a common vision for the city’s events sector.
Mr Hutchison said a succession of developments had created the right environment for a new push into key international markets, with the strategy involving a “whole-of-city” approach to winning new business and developing a long-term blueprint for the city’s future.
“Never before has Sydney had such support for its events industry and never before has there been such opportunity, created by a new unity among our city’s leaders and a passion to capitalise on the remarkable brand we have created for Sydney,” Mr Hutchison said.
“We intend to harness that new energy and take our International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) ranking into the world’s top 10 conference destinations in five years’ time, cementing our position as one of the world’s leading destinations for business events.”
Mr Hutchison said pivotal to Sydney’s future development was the launch of Events New South Wales in late 2007 which he describes as a pioneering new model for bringing major events to Sydney. Created by NSW Premier Morris Iemma and funded by the New South Wales Government, the new entity has been charged with bringing events of all types to Sydney, from public events and major sporting events to conferences and other business events.
“Events New South Wales is a government-funded corporation that capitalises on the industry-led skills and proven event-winning formula of the Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“It is a new model for creating government-industry cooperation and effective action, and one that we know has already caught the attention of other cities overseas.”
Backed by Events New South Wales, the SCVB is preparing to mount a major push into its key markets in Europe and North America, while at the same time increasing its successful operations in the emerging markets of Asia.
The bureau will expand its business development teams in both Europe and Asia, mount new sales missions in key markets, expand its head-office team in Sydney, and launch new branding and marketing initiatives worldwide.
At the same time, the SCVB has championed a new forum to ensure widespread support for the business events sector among Sydney’s business leaders. Mr Hutchison said the Leaders’ Business Events Forum will create a united front for the city’s events industry and draw on the combined expertise of key CEOs and other leaders to address the over-arching issues facing Sydney.
 Central to the city’s blueprint for the future is the development of new infrastructure and a commitment to increase capacity in response to demand, Mr Hutchison said.
“Sydney’s harbourside conference facilities are world-class and continue to be a powerful asset in bringing business to our city, but we need to expand our capacity so that we can fuel future growth,” Mr Hutchison said.
“In February the State Government released the findings of a major investigation into our future infrastructure needs and I’m pleased to say there is strong political impetus behind the expansion plans.
“The study has produced achievable options for meeting our future needs and we look forward to the Government’s response in the very near future.”
Other issues being addressed include extending the city’s leadership in environmental initiatives. Following the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre’s world-first recognition as a Green Globe benchmarked convention centre, the SCVB is now supporting the green initiatives of many of its other members including carbon offset schemes, green meeting products, energy reduction programs and waste reduction and recycling programs.
Sydney made world headlines in 2007 as the instigator of the Earth Hour movement which this year extended to dozens of other cities worldwide, while the City of Sydney is now working to implement the initiatives of its Sustainable Sydney 2030 vision for future development and the reduction of greenhouse emissions by 50 per cent by 2030.
Mr Hutchison said Australia’s strong economy, successful scientific and medical research sectors, strong business ties with Asia and heavy involvement in the powerhouse economy of China had all combined to create strong confidence in Sydney.
“This confidence is reflected in aviation trends, with airlines like Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Emirates announcing significant increases in Sydney services and capacity, most notably when Singapore Airlines cho se Sydney as the first destination in the world to welcome the Airbus A380 super-jumbo last year,” Mr Hutchison said.
“Further growth will come later this year when the Virgin group launches its latest international airline, V Australia, providing new competition on the key Sydney-Los Angeles route and allowing major cost reductions in travel from North America.”
Recently named “World’s Best Brand” for the second year running in the annual Anholt City Brands Index, Sydney will this year welcome more than 220,000 international visitors at 29 events secured with the help of the Sydney Convention a nd Visitors Bureau.
This year’s events have a combined economic value of A$278 million and include the Young Presidents’ Organisation Global Leadership Congress, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Congress, the World Congress of the Transplantation Society and the 9th World Congress of Metropolis.
The largest event is World Youth Day in July, expected to bring 200,000 Catholic pilgrims to Sydney and including a visit by Pope Benedict XVI (see separate story).
After nine years of planning and investment of almost $20 million, the historic Q Station near Manly is ready and open for business. And what potential it has for the special events industry!
The Q Station was once upon a time a quarantine station. It operated as such for more than 150 years, temporarily housing ill migrants who had just arrived in Australia.
After its extensive restoration works Q Station now offers 75 acommodation rooms and six cottages, seven meeting rooms flooded with natural light, timber floors and breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour and the surrounding bushland, and a beachside restaurant aptly called The Boilerhouse.
As well as the meeting and dining facilities Q Station has a range of activities for conference groups including storytelling tours, watersports, and a spa which offers Aboriginal-inspired treatments (opening September 2008).
To learn more visit www.qstation.com.au.
Sydney’s hosting of the 23rd World Youth Day from July 15 to 20 will be the largest event Australia has held, and will mark the first visit by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to our shores.
Times and details of the major events at World Youth Day Sydney 2008 (WYD08) were recently confirmed, with WYD08 organisers also unveiling the name that will be used to identify the joint venues hosting the Evening Vigil and Final Mass with Pope Benedict XVI. Royal Randwick Racecourse and nearby Centennial Park will be united in name as the Southern Cross Precinct.
Festivities kick off on Tuesday, July 15, with an opening mass by Cardinal Pell from 4.30pm to 6.30pm at Barangaroo. A Youth Festival will run from 2pm to 10pm from Tuesday to Friday in more than 250 locations around the city.
A highlight will be on Thursday, July 17 with the papal arrival via “boat-a-cade” and the Stations Of The Cross on Friday, July 18 at St Mary’s Cathedral, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, the Sydney Opera House forecourt, and the Domain.
The evening vigil with the Pope will be on Saturday, July 19 in the so-called Southern Cross Precinct, namely the Royal Randwick Racecourse.
A Papal motorcade will be held through the city on Sunday, July 20, with the final mass with the Pope following (beginning at 10am). The final day of the Youth Festival will also be held, this time from 12.30pm to 5pm in various locations around the city.
Plenty of controversy continues about WYD08 and its perceived value to the city. The event is believed to be costing taxpayers somewhere in the vicinity of $100 million although it is anticipated that visitors will inject at least twice that into the local economy while they are here.
This is despite the majority of “pilgrims” who are coming to the event from overseas staying not in hotels but rather being billeted out to predominantly Catholic families throughout Sydney.
One strong supporter has been the Sydney Convention & Visitors Bureau. General manager marketing of the Sydney Convention & Visitors Bureau, Lyn Lewis-Smith told mice.net World Youth Day will be a boom for Sydney.
“World Youth Day will put Sydney on the world stage yet again and show why this city is so adept at managing spectacular events on a grand scale,” Ms Lewis-Smith said.
World Youth Day is the largest youth event in the world. Organised by the Catholic Church, World Youth Day gathers young people from around the world to build bridges of friendship and hope between continents, peoples and cultures.
Sydney was chosen to host the XXII World Youth Day in August 2005. The announcement was made by Pope Benedict XVI in Cologne at the conclusion of the XX World Youth Day.
 
Closing the gap between fine dining and large scale catering, the special event management company for The Sydney Opera House, Opera Point Events launched its Autumn culinary creations at an event in the Opera Point Marquee recently.
More than 200 event planners, luxury brand managers and key clients packed the exclusive space on the harbour’s edge below The Sydney Opera House to experience head chef, Simon Sandall’s tastes of Autumn in a themed event staged by Opera Point Events and James Gordon Workshop.
Using the best seasonal flavours and produce, Simon’s carefully constructed menu complemented the Autumn theme creatively bought to life by James Gordon Workshop through entertainment and decor inspired by the colours, tastes, smells and textures of the season.
“Autumn’s a fantastic season for food. Seasonal fruits and vegetables such as apples, citrus, nuts, mushrooms and asparagus are perfect combinations for rich meats like aged beef fillets and milk-fed veal – not to mention the potential for some amazing after-dinner creations,” Mr Sandall said.
“This was a great opportunity to showcase what we can do for special events at Sydney Opera House. Rather than seeing the food as an add-on, we approach the menu as an integral element of the event’s theme and ultimate success.
“Coming from a fine dining background at one of Sydney’s best restaurants, my vision for Opera Point Events and The Sydney Opera House was to apply fine dining fundamentals to event catering. This includes making all our base ingredients such as stocks, pastries and sauces from scratch and using quality ingredients that are in season, to give our clients and their guests a culinary experience to remember us by.” Head chef at ARIA restaurant for eight years before joining Opera Point Events last year, Simon is one of Sydney’s most anticipated and talented young chefs – as proven by his decision to move from five-star dining into venue catering.
“One of the best things about cooking for events is the creativity involved. I’ve worked with every global cuisine and conceivable ingredient to theme menus for our client’s events, and they absolutely love that we have the versatility to bring their vision to life through the food.
“One thing that strikes us time and again is that there is a real need for creative, top-shelf dining in special events in Sydney. It takes commitment and perseverance, but opportunities like this showcase are a great way to educate planners and clients to expect more when it comes to event dining. I believe the food should be a showstopper.”
Visit www.operapointevents.com.au for further details.
 
Recently the venue played host to the official launch of the new Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Van. Over two days media and car dealers were brought to the Howie Pavilion to hear seminars on individual vehicles and to get behind the wheels for a drive program.
The event, which was attended by around 50 people per day, made the most of the scale of Sydney Showground and the scope of the Howie Pavilion’s outdoor space, with one of the main roads in and around the showground closed while guests took the new cars for a spin.
The venue and its vast facilities are becoming increasingly popular for all manner of launches and events, and now hosts in excess of 400 business, trade and consumer events. Located within the so-called geographical heart of Sydney, and with parking for 10,000 vehicles and more than 20 unique venues within its 30 hectares, the centre continues to kick goals in the competitive business events area.
As chief executive of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, Peter King, explains, the flexible indoor and outdoor spaces, top-quality catering and dedicated staff are providing client solutions.
This was demonstrated clearly at AIMEX 2007, one of the world’s largest mining exhibitions which utilised several venues and more than 70,000 square metres of space throughout the Dome, the exhibition halls, the Howie Complex, the Badgery Pavilion and the Southee Complex.
 The rapid expansion of Constellation Hotel Group’s Chifley network is creating new and unique conference and incentive facilities in Sydney with the recent opening of the Chifley Potts Point and Chifley Eastern Creek in Sydney’s west.
In March Constellation unveiled the Chifley brand in Sydney, with the soft-opening of Chifley Potts Point. Located on the corner of Victoria Street and Darlinghurst Road, the property emerged from an extensive renovation to offer 227-rooms and the chic Cursa restaurant and Delta bar, which now overlooks one of the country’s most colourful entertainment precincts.
From August Chifley Potts Point will offer meeting and event organisers a choice of four conference rooms capable of hosting up to 60 people. A unique outdoor terrace looking across to the area’s famous Coca-Cola sign will also be accessible from the conference floor, as well as an indoor pre/post-function area for cocktails and entertaining.
This month (June) Constellation unveiled the Chifley Eastern Creek. As well as the Eastern Creek Raceway, this area is seeing a growing number of corporate parks and businesses. The 104-room Chifley Eastern Creek is expected to service this market, and will offer conference and meeting facilities catering for up to 200 people.
 
Formerly managed by the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM), the new UNSW CBD Campus is a welcome addition to the organisation’s impressive stable of venues, including the award-winning Scientia building in Kensington.
Venues and Events, the business unit at UNSW responsible for delivering the university’s teaching, conference and events space - more than 350 venues in all - has transformed this executive conference centre.
Venues and Events says to call it a campus is the understatement of the year – a better description would be a first-class airport lounge. It is stylish, contemporary and state-of-the art, with exceptional “can-do” service and full business centre facilities.
Everything from audio-visual equipment, operations, and catering has been overhauled. And environmentally friendly, energy saving initiatives, including compact fluorescent lighting, remote monitored conference rooms, recycled products and sustainable healthy menus have been employed in every aspect of the design.
Home to Australia’s first thinkPOD, the friendly team at the CBD would love to show you around. So pop in and grab a cappuccino from their help-yourself unlimited espresso machine, or better still – a made to order smoothie.
Visit www.venuesandevents.unsw.edu.au for further details.
 Captain Cook Cruises is giving all event planners the opportunity to earn “cruise rewards” by booking their upcoming Christmas party, awards night, conference or social club function that they can put towards a free, three night Fiji cruise for two people on the Reef Escape.
According to Captain Cook Cruises, earning Cruise Rewards couldn’t be easier. All you have to do is choose a boat from their fleet of cruise, sail and solar-powered vessels and you could be enjoying a Fiji trip of a lifetime.
Vessels to choose from include the Sydney 2000 - the official vessel for Pope Benedict XVI for World Youth Day 08, and the luxurious Sydney Crystal which recently hosted a party for Celine Dion and her family and friends. Then choose from their variety of menus, entertainment, theming and bar package options and book your event.
If you spend more than $5000 on the event you receive a sailing seafood lunch for two valued at $132. Spend more than $8000 and get a Sky Deck Gold Dinner with window seating for two people valued at $398. Spend over $10,000 and receive a Sydney two-night Weekender Cruise for two valued at $1180, or spend over $15,000 to get a three-night Fiji Escape cruise for two people valued at $2930.
Conditions do apply so we suggest you contact Captain Cook Cruises for all the details on www.captaincook.com.au.
Some meeting planners swear by regional meetings in contrast to conferences held in central business districts, and events in regional New South Wales are no exception.
It’s generally okay to hold inner-city conferences in major CBD-based venues if you are holding a national conference where delegates are coming from around the country to one central location (usually near to the head office). But when you really need to have your group focused on the job at hand and the majority of them are already based in town, then getting them out of their comfort zone into a regional centre may be just the ticket.
The good news is that in the majority of cases you don’t have to spend more than a few hours getting to a regional New South Wales centre. Flying times to most regions in NSW like Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie are generally one hour in the air. For those who want to drive you can hit the Blue Mountains, Newcastle and Wollongong in just under two hours, all of which have some exceptional hotels, meetings space, and personnel who understand the many nuances and high expectations of the conference and events business.
The Novotel Wollongong Hotel Northbeach is one of regional New South Wales’ best performers in the meetings market. Boasting 204 spacious accommodation rooms, all styled with modern furnishings, crisp white bed linen, comfortable beds, spacious bathrooms with bath facilities and oversized bath towels, your delegates will certainly feel as if they have left the big city behind.
 There are 12 meeting rooms in total as well as extensive pre-function areas suitable for exhibition booths. The pillarless grand ballroom can seat up to 600 delegates theatre-style. All meetings rooms share a dedicated floor with nine of them offering beach and ocean views.
Another popular regional New South Wales property is BreakFree Aanuka Beach Resort on the Coffs Coast. The resort is set among six hectares of carefully tended grounds, with low-rise bungalows and large, roomy apartments just metres to the beach.
Nestled between two headlands on beautiful Diggers Beach, the conference and dining facilities are forefront of the resort. The outdoor covered patios of the venues provide the perfect spot for delegates to refresh and revive during coffee breaks. Indeed, you’ll probably have to drag them away after lunch as they enjoy sweeping views over the ocean while dining.
With great weather, a variety of different dinners can be catered for on-site with the lagoon poolside BBQs a popular choice.
Accommodation ranges from studio hotel rooms to the large two and three bedroom spa villas which are perfect for twin and even quad sharing.
The resort is primarily geared towards events of up to 150 delegates, with partners and children also well catered for with the on-site day spa, Kids’ Club and recreational facilities.
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