 
If there was any doubt that the Northern Territory couldn’t host high-profile, medium-sized meetings that demanded elements including innovation, networking, and a range of concurrent sessions all under the one roof then the MEA 2008 conference proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that it could deliver on all fronts.
If the interest in a destination can be determined by delegate numbers then with 517 attendees at the MEA annual gathering Alice Springs and the Northern Territory is clearly of great interest as a host of meetings and incentives.
Conference chair Scott Lovett, formerly with the Alice Springs Convention Centre and now Staging Connections, said running an industry event for one’s peers, especially in such a unique location as Alice Springs, requires an enormous amount of work from many key people.
“Our local host committee who crafted one of the best social programs in years must be congratulated – especially for the magical night at Ooraminna, memories of which will remain with many of us for years to come!
“The program committee, headed by Lynn Fairbrass, must also be congratulated for putting on an inspiring, relevant and thought-provoking speaker program. Last and by no means least the conference team at MEA must be congratulated. As always, the conference impacts all MEA staff, and their work towards this conference went well and truly above and beyond the call of duty.”
It has to make you feel pretty good when you’re part of an industry and the Federal Minister representing your market segment comes along and speaks at your annual conference. MEA conference delegates were fortunate to have Federal Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism, Martin Ferguson, welcome delegates to Alice Springs, and give assurances that the business tourism segment is a very important segment indeed, recognised by the Federal Government for its value to the community at large.
Unfortunately, the professional nature of Mr Ferguson’s address, signalling a strong start to the conference was diminished by that of Wayne “Krafty” Kraft, who gave his take on the appeal of the Northern Territory in a most convoluted fashion that left many scratching their heads, and no-doubt organisers wishing he’d get off stage ASAP. Some have heard Krafty’s stories before and been impressed with his style and delivery. This time he didn’t even come close to the mark.
Thankfully, Alice Springs-based singer, songwriter and photographer Barry Skipsey saved the day, delivering a moving performance complete with his own photographs of some of the Northern Territory’s most stunning scenery as a backdrop. This was truly an inspirational presentation.
The MC throughout the conference was Anh Do who did a great job of keeping the conference on track, and doing so with plenty of humour. All his jokes may not have hit the mark, however, he delivered them with such enthusiasm that you couldn’t help but like his keenness.
Business sessions were wide and varied – some may say too much. There were actually so many options to choose from in concurrent sessions that making a decision to attend one meant that you often missed out on another of equal value.
This was clearly the case with the presentation on procurement by IBM’s procurement manager, Kylie Norris. Procurement is big business, and business event practitioners who are after the corporate dollar have to understand how “big business” acts in terms of selecting event services. Unfortunately, Ms Norris didn’t get the number of attendees that should have been there (although this may be a reflection of the large number of venue operators who attended the conference).
Around the corner at the same time delegates were hanging from the rafters to hear a presentation on selling by Chris Helder, a keynote speaker sponsored by Ovations International. Attendees described his presentation as well worth it.
The presentation by managing director of George P Johnson (Australia) Ltd, Peter Rix, on “the event we had to have – APEC 2007” was well attended and well received, as was the Green Initiatives in Meetings & Events panel discussion. Led by Jeremy Garling, managing director of Great Southern E-vents, attendees learnt plenty about this challenging area, especially from managing director of the Carbon Institute, Rob Cawthorne and Kim McKay of Clean Up Australia fame. At only one hour in length, however, this session could have gone far longer, begging the question whether MEA was trying to fit too much into a too little time frame.
People working in the meetings and events industry work hard all-year round, so when the time comes to be a guest of an event and not the organiser they know how to let their hair down.
There were plenty of opportunities to do so in Alice Springs beginning with the opening night’s function at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station. Here delegates stepped back in time at the telegraph station, nestled on the banks of the Todd River, just a short distance from the convention centre and the Alice Springs CBD.
Those who felt like working up an appetite participated in the sailing race Alice Springs style, with teams joining forces from different states. For the less active a glass of champagne, wine or beer in one hand, and a comfortable spot on the riverbank to watch the races appeared to hit the spot.
Afterwards delegates meandered up the narrow incline back to the telegraph station for a stand-up dinner, with a variety of cuisine on offer from surrounding food stations.
Club MEA, the so-called after-party party, was held at Crowne Plaza Alice Springs on this first night, and was, as usual at MEA events, well attended.
The outback bush bash, as it was called, at Ooraminna Station Homestead, was another conference highlight. First-timers met host Jan Hayes who not only puts on a great event for guests but has an uncanny knack of remembering people from years gone by.
This place lends itself to a truly iconic outback experience. Guests make their way from Alice Springs along red dusty roads to who knows where until they arrive at the rustic Ooraminna. Six generations of Hayes’ have been farming this rugged land.
The stunning setting for dinner, complete with old farm buildings and surrounded by rocky outcrops, looks equally as inviting when the sun is setting or when it is lit by carefully placed lighting, highlighting the outdoor venue’s best features.
The final night’s entertainment was contained in the Alice Springs Convention Centre which was transformed from a conference venue into a banquet space fit for almost 500 kings and queens. The awards ceremony was kept pretty short and sweet, giving those who just couldn’t help themselves another opportunity to shake themselves all about.
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