 If I haven’t stayed at the Crown Promenade Hotel half a dozen times since it opened then I’d be surprised. The stylish property seems to fit all my needs – it’s comfortable, rooms are of a good size, and its centrally located to everywhere I need to be. And no doubt the boss is pretty happy with its competitive rates. But it’s not just me who likes the property. With 465 rooms (950 when combined with its sister property), a plenary that can seat 650 theatre-style, 10 break-out rooms, 30 exhibition booth spaces, a purpose-built registration area, a business centre and a fully equipped leisure facility including a 25-metre indoor pool the property has been wowing guests and meeting and event delegates since opening its doors in 2004. With Mesh restaurant and Tonic bar on-site, and a super room service menu, guests really don’t have to leave the property for much at all. But if they really want to the property is linked to the Crown Entertainment Complex via an airbridge, giving visitors access to a world of entertainment including an international shopping arcade, more than 40 restaurants and bars, a 24-hour world class casino, cinemas, an interactive entertainment arcade, and a cabaret style theatre venue.
Since opening the Crown Promenade Hotel has hosted more than 2000 residential conferences and meetings. The Meetings Industry Association of Australia was one of the earliest groups to test-run the venue when it held its 2004 annual conference at the property, attended by about 450 members. Since then it has been the official games host hotel for the Melbourne 2005 20th Deaflympic Games, and in 2006 hosted the World Youth and Student Travel Industry Conference (WYSTC).
The WYSTC was held from October 9 to 13 and saw representatives from 485 countries and 65 organisations in attendance. Meetings played a strong part in the event while more than 700 delegates attended the farewell dinner function. Delegates and planners found the flexibility of the venue one of its strong points, as they did during the 20th Deaflympic Games. As the official games host hotel for this major international event Crown Promenade demonstrated its strong audio visual capabilities by installing a hearing-aid system throughout the entire conference floor. In addition, AV technicians created a range of cutting-edge services including network and wireless capabilities, high speed wireless technology, data and web technology, video conferencing and professional on-site support.
Specific telephones (TTY) for the hearing impaired were available on request and could be plugged into the existing PABX system. Standard phones featured a red flashing light which illuminated when the phone was ringing. The hotel also offered personal wake-up calls upon the guests’ requests whereby an officer from the hotel’s security and service department would enter the room to wake the guests by turning the lights on and off.
Delegates to the MEA conference were impressed with the quality of cuisine at the property. Building on Melbourne’s reputation for culinary experiences, the welcome luncheon in Mesh restaurant showcased a sumptuous range of cosmopolitan favourites. Tonic Bar, transformed nightly into Club MEA, proved to be the party venue with revelry. And the events keep happening at Crown Promenade, including one to celebrate its third year in the business. So from all of us at mice.net magazine, happy birthday Crown Promenade. Visit www.crownpromenade.com.au for further details.
ABOVE: Room flexibility at Crown Promenade is a key to the venue’s ongoing success. The OECD Global Forum set-up was well received by high profile delegates. The venue also played host to the World Youth and Student Travel Industry Conference in 2006, and the MEA annual conference in 2004.
<< Top
|