|
The Gold Coast was coming alive at the time of going to press with the destination’s latest initiative – GCBazaar 2008, which sees the region hosting more than 60 events from June 1 to 30.
GCBazaar 2008 boasts a growing festival calendar jam-packed with an array of new and existing events. Culinary competitions, cocktail evenings, degustation dinners, fashion parades, sporting events, food festivals, live entertainment, fashion tours and luncheons are all on the GCBazaar menu.
Gold Coast Tourism spokesperson, Ben Pole, said GCBazaar provides locals and visitors with something to satisfy every member of the family.
“GCBazaar is set to be even bigger and better than the successful inaugural event; there is more fashion, more food and more fun,” he said.
“We are really impressed with how the Gold Coast has united to present a unique festival for everyone to enjoy.”
From Coolangatta to Beenleigh and west to the hinterland, there is said to be something on for everyone across the region, whether they’re after dining delights, beachside beats, romantic retreats, family days out or the thrill of a flutter at the races.
More than 100 Gold Coast outlets are participating in the festival and many local restaurants, cafés, hotels and other attractions are offering attractive special deals during the GCBazaar month of June.
To learn more visit www.GCBazaar.com.
Whether it’s for private dining, cocktails for 100 guests or an event for 1000, here we profile a range of unique venues in Brisbane.
If you are after function spaces that have a historical yet contemporary feel, Eagle Farm Race Course is your best bet. This venue has rooms that range from smaller more intimate cocktail style spaces to rooms that can cater for 100.
 Eagle Farm Racecourse promises boutique venues with versatility and elegance, and function rooms with exquisite décor nestled among 60 hectares of manicured gardens. And located between the Brisbane Airport and CBD this venue is conveniently situated for inbound guests.
Eagle Farm Racecourse has the flexibility to host everything from festivals and outdoor exhibitions to smaller breakfast meetings or conferences.
And why not carry the racing theme throughout your own event and put all your money on Eagle Farm Race Course to win.
To check out the venues go to www.qtc.org/.
Described as “Paris meets Shanghai”, Brisbane’s latest unique boutique venue provides an oasis in the city with a glamorous touch. Located in central Fortitude Valley, this unlikely spot is home to a venue which can cater for 260 guests banquet-style or 400 for cocktails.
The only thing that tells this venue apart from the industrial-looking buildings that surround it is the intricate gold filigree doors that open up to a completely different world. The entrance is instantly mesmerising and will take your guests into an elegant yet edgy space filled with regal gold and purple décor. The detail is everywhere: from the ceilings to the most interestingly beautiful bathrooms you will ever see! Bathrooms aren’t a selling point for most, however, the use of an antique-style bird cage as a lampshade and intricate paint work that trails on the ceiling, could rival any Michelangelo masterpiece. Any event held at this venue is sure to be a memorable one and will leave your guests raving. For more information about the venue’s offerings, go to www.mirra.net.au.
Another one of Brisbane’s antique gems, City Hall provides spaces that ooze history and tales of times past. Built in the 1920s, this heritage-listed building offers many function spaces well-suited for events of all shapes and sizes. City Hall is centrally located in the heart of the CBD and offers six distinctive event spaces and function rooms that can cater for 20 to just over 1500 guests.
With the current King’s Square development underway, with completion due at the end of this year, once finished this space will be another bonus for the city, and an addition to the venue possibilities of City Hall. For more information go to www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/cityhall.
Brisbane Technology Park is home to the BTP Technology and Conference Centre which is a modern venue with flexible conference facilities. Located just 10 minutes from Brisbane’s CBD this venue also has easy access to the airport as well as the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. This centre has a large auditorium that can seat 750 people as a whole, or can be divided up into two or three smaller spaces. The atrium area is said to be perfect for hosting exhibitions and tradeshows and makes the most of the natural light. The park has recently boosted the number of boardroom facilities and now has two which can accommodate up to 18 delegates and 12 in the new level-one boardroom. For more information about Brisbane Technology Park’s facilities and services, go to www.brisbanetechnologypark.com.au.
Royal on the Park boasts being the first hotel to be built in Brisbane, however don’t let its historical façade convince you that it is still in the past, as this venue is home to state-of-the-art technology and modern accommodation rooms. Located within easy walking distance to the city centre this hotel overlooks the Botanic Gardens and Brisbane River. The historic property offers a range of function spaces which include eight meeting rooms that can cater for four to 800 people. Royal on the Park recently welcomed a new chef, internationally acclaimed Gary Farrell who promises to change Brisbane’s food scene and introduce exciting new events and food concepts to the hotel. For more information about the conference packages available go to www.royalonthepark.com.au.
Offering views over Brisbane from the 30th floor, Sofitel boasts this room as being Australia’s largest executive club lounge and a great space for corporate guests to meet, relax, dine and most importantly take in the birds’ eye view of the city (maybe with a glass of champagne). This $2 million lounge promises to provide business and leisure guests an exclusive environment to work, entertain or simply just relax. Some of the facilities include a recreation room that is decked out with the latest technology where guests can be entertained with electronic games and DVDs. And the entertainment doesn’t stop there as guests can make the most of the lounge area with large plasma TVs, two buffet areas and a private dining room. The lounge is part of the Club Sofitel floors on levels 26-29 that offer premium, luxury accommodation. And if you feel you’ve had too many canapés during your stay you can visit the adjacent gym which also has spectacular views of the city. For more information, go to www.sofitelbrisbane.com.au/clubsofitel.
Known by the locals for its tasty breakfast (and for many lunch and dinner as well) this French-style bistro is named after French star Edith Piaf. The menu boasts sticky pork belly, eye fillet with parsley mash, and with classic French desserts like brulee and tarte tatin, there is sure to be something that will entice everyone. For bookings call (07) 3846 5026.
The perfect way to wine and dine before the theatre is Bar Alto. Located at The Powerhouse, this chic restaurant and bar offers hearty meals for reasonable prices. This establishment needs three goats a week to keep up with Brisbane’s taste for its home-made pappardelle with goat ragu. Bar Alto offers a selection of delicious meals and is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11am. With river views and nestled next to New Farm Park, this one-chef-hat-award-winning restaurant is sure to leave an impression on your taste buds! To check out the menu go to www.baralto.com.au
This uniquely-styled Asian restaurant provides much more than what you would find on your local Thai take-away menu, with dining here offering a fusion of cuisine. With long communal tables and breathtaking night views of the Story Bridge and Brisbane River, this is the perfect spot for an evening meal or cocktails. If you think it’s hard to choose from the detailed menu, wait’ till you see the cocktails list! And if it’s not on the lengthy list, the bar staff promise to whip up whatever tickles your taste buds. For more information or to see the cocktails list go to www.siana.com.au.
With recently renovated rooms, views of the Brisbane River and a central location, the Marriott offers a lot of drawcards for conference delegates. With function rooms and a newly refurbished executive lounge, this hotel has a lot to offer the business traveller. Guests can make the most of the well-appointed rooms that promise a comfortable stay, and those staying on the executive level can enjoy the recently renovated executive lounge which provides business services as well as a place to meet or relax. The Marriott also has five function rooms that range from the grand ballroom, which can cater for 250 delegates for cocktails, to the Atcherley Room, which can seat 12 as a boardroom. The facilities also include a pool, day spa, and gym. Visit www.marriott.com.au for more information about accommodation and conference packages.
As one of the new kids on the block in terms of properties in the area, this luxury boutique-style hotel can boast being host to celebrities such as Tommy Lee and singer Vanessa Amorosi. More than just a place to spot the famous, this luxury property offers guests 106 apartment-style rooms and of these, 42 are king-size spa rooms. All rooms are individually styled and guests can make the most of the roof top pool, gym, spa and cocktail bar, which displays the owner’s fine wine and champagne collection. To ensure a sound night’s sleep, Emporium has thought of everything, including a VIP pillow menu. For more information about the accommodation available, visit www.emporiumhotel.com.au.
This heritage-listed building sums up much of what Brisbane has to offer: warm hospitality and great food, and most importantly of all, a comfortable bed. Management are currently looking at renovating its accommodation rooms, however the high occupancy rates are making the change harder to schedule. But the sample of what is proposed promises a contemporary edge without disregarding the hotel’s historical value. As well as promising a comfortable night’s sleep, this hotel also offers function and meeting spaces which can cater for everything from board meetings to cocktail parties. To check out the accommodation and event options available go to www.conradtreasury.com.au.
See the city of Brisbane from a different point of view and marvel at the twinkling lights of the nightscape and Story Bridge. Night kayaking is the perfect way to end a day of intense conferencing as the tranquil splashing water has an instant calming effect. Riverlife has all the equipment you need to get out on the water (which even includes trusty little lights at the back of the kayak so that the fast City Cats don’t mow you down!). Riverlife has a host of activities available and the equipment to go with it, including rock climbing, bike riding, skating and pumpabiking, which is another water activity. There are so many corporate options at Riverlife, especially if you choose night kayaking, which every Friday night includes one-and-a-half hours of kayaking followed by beer and prawns on the riverfront deck. Riverlife also has a selection of function facilities available that make the most of the river views, For more information go to www.riverlife.com.au.
Located on Queensland’s Moreton Island, just 75 kilometres off the coast of Brisbane and nestled in the national park, is Tangalooma Island Resort, which is known for its wild dolphin visitors. This is the place where guests can feed a pod of wild bottlenose dolphins. As well, this resort lists more than 75 other activities including parasailing, helicopter joy flights and whale watching. On the business side of things, the property offers a unique meeting and incentive experience. With three conference rooms, accommodation within 50 metres of the beach, as well as an array of team-building opportunities this resort has many drawcards for delegates. For more information about the conference and team-building opportunities available, go to www.tangalooma.com.
For some of you it may be a fear of heights, for others it may just be a fear of falling. Either way this activity will get your adrenalin pumping and all the while give you a bird’s eye view of the city. Climbing the Story Bridge is a perfect team-building activity (somehow extreme situations help to bring down the barriers and make a team stronger). The team at the Story Bridge Climb have expanded their team-building opportunities with abseiling soon to be available from one of the pylons, as well as tai chi from the top platform. Whole team-building packages can be tailored to suit your needs, which can include a barbecue function post-climb, and if something stronger is required, a quick stroll to the Story Bridge Hotel for a drink is sure to settle your nerves. For more information about the corporate packages available go to
www.storybridgeadventureclimb.com.au.
Top
|