With 21 tourists to every one resident, there’s no denying tourism plays a huge role in the successful economic growth of the Gold Coast. In fact, as Pavan Bhatia, CEO of Gold Coast Tourism (GCT) says, “It’s a city that really only has one industry – tourism.”
But having staked its claim as one of the hottest spots in Australia for leisure, the holiday location has turned its energies towards developing another facet of its $4.2 billion tourism industry – business tourism.
Having all but mastered its offerings to the leisure market, Mr Bhatia says that business tourism is the next era for the Gold Coast. The destination is striving to play the conventions and incentives game not just on a domestic level, but also on a global scale.
While its core business events markets are New Zealand, Australia and Japan, the Gold Coast is investing time and money into targeting other regions, such as the Gulf, India and China.
Assisting in this bid to attract business from afar is the runway extension at Gold Coast Airport to be completed in mid-2007. Gold Coast Airport is working in partnership with airlines, government and industry to establish new direct routes from throughout Asia, India and the Middle East. And the advent of low-cost flights to and from overseas means the destination is hoping to attract more international arrivals, rather than predominantly domestic.
The Gold Coast’s presence at AIME 2007 certainly spoke volumes about its commitment to boosting growth in business tourism. GCT doubled its floor space from previous years and the Very Gold Coast VeryGC 12-metre banner and streetscape stand provided a very visual and recognisable point of reference, drawing plenty of potential business planners to the location. GCT also had a record number of member products attending this year, ranging from five-star hotels to incentive ideas.
Mr Bhatia expressed at a press conference during AIME that he’d like to see the Gold Coast becoming a destination that is a dichotomy of fun and business. There’s a five-year strategic plan in place to boost the region’s international weight in business tourism, which Mr Bhatia says is progressing nicely.
“Gold Coast Tourism has implemented a strategic shift in recent years to capitalise on record levels of infrastructure development, venue investment, unified destination branding and a citywide tourism strategy to increase the city’s perception and conversion among business tourism markets,” he says.
“The strategy is delivering results with growth of around 20 per cent in the past 12 months and particularly exciting increases out of target international markets such as India and China.”
He says the Gold Coast business tourism proposition is unique as there are few destinations with the comparative business capacity and variety of wider experience which also benefit from excellent access and the very best level of professional support services.
“The Gold Coast is large enough to handle and cater for the very big corporate groups coming out of Asia, yet boutique enough to ensure a truly exclusive and distinctive experience.
“Gold Coast Tourism will continue our assertive strategy to increase our current two per cent share of the $17 billion Australian business tourism market.”
Holiday Inn Surfers Paradise
Holiday Inn Surfers Paradise is nearing completion of an $11.5 million revitalisation of all guest areas including meeting rooms, guest rooms, hotel lobby and restaurant, with only the finishing touches remaining. Just 100 metres from Surfers Paradise beach, the hotel offers a choice of conference and event facilities over two levels, incorporating two ballrooms and 10 function rooms, and can cater up to 600 people. The new look and ambiance of the hotel continues through all function rooms and features an extended pre-function space, new carpet, walls and lighting. All 404 guest rooms feature new furnishings and carpet, flat-screen televisions, upgraded bathroom, lighting and fresh paint. Other features of the hotel include an outdoor pool, sauna, and the Sirocco Restaurant and Bar. For more information, phone (07) 5579 1000 or visit
www.holidayinn.com.au.
Freshwater Point Resort
One of the newest properties on the Gold Coast, Freshwater Point Resort is located in the heart of cosmopolitan Broadbeach and offers a choice of one, two or three-bedroom apartments with either water or mountain views. Its facilities include an on-site cafe, heated pools, fully-equipped gymnasium, extensive landscaped gardens, fishing jetty, plus conference and business facilities which cater for small to medium-sized groups. The resort is just metres from the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre and Jupiters Casino. For more information, phone (07) 5582 1000 or visit www.freshwaterpointresort.com.au.
Radisson Resort Gold Coast
Set in Palm Meadows, Radisson Resort Gold Coast offers 308 spacious guest rooms, each with a balcony or private courtyard, and has 13 meeting rooms with the largest catering for 700 cocktail-style or 400 banquet-style. Close to two championship golf courses, shopping, and sandy white beaches, the resort also features four flood-lit tennis courts, a restaurant, two swimming pools, a bar, an outdoor spa and a health and beauty day spa. For more information, phone (07) 5555 7700 or visit www.radisson.com/goldcoastau.
Gold Coast International Hotel
Offering 296 recently-refurbished guest rooms and suites over 22 floors, the Gold Coast International Hotel is a five-star resort located only 50 metres from the beaches of Surfers Paradise. It has undercover parking for 230 cars, a gymnasium, sauna, spa and steamroom, day spa, two tennis courts, a swimming pool and swim-up bar, and three restaurants. The hotel’s new Lava bar has recently been refurbished, and offers an exclusive sanctum located off the main lobby. There are 16 conference, meeting and function venues available, from a boardroom catering for 10 to the grand ballroom seating up to 700 theatre-style or 500 banquet-style. For more information, phone (07) 5584 1200 or visit www.gci.com.au.
Legends Hotel
Located 100 metres from beaches and a short stroll from shopping, restaurants and nightlife, Legends Hotel in Surfers Paradise offers 403 guest rooms and suites with private balconies boasting views across the ocean and hinterland. The hotel features a steam room and Swedish-style sauna, outdoor swimming pool, gymnasium, Fables Restaurant and Tales bar. Its conference facilities include a variety of pillarless function rooms with natural lighting and advanced audio-visual equipment, in addition to pre-function foyer and outdoor terrace areas. The pillarless ballroom with adjacent outdoor terrace holds up to 400 cocktail-style and 270 banquet-style. For more information, phone (07) 5588 7888 or visit www.legendshotel.com.au.
Watermark Hotel & Spa
Watermark Hotel & Spa is nestled at the heart of Surfers Paradise, with shopping, dining and entertainment playground and beach culture at its doorstep. The hotel is soon to complete another addition to its growing list of facilities – a new enclosed 120 person capacity entertainment area which is in its final stages of completion. Taking advantage of the Gold Coast hinterland skyline and the pristine Nerang River, the new undercover area will feature flexible lighting, audio and a multitude of theming opportunities with seating options for up to 120. Following suit, the hotel’s Amalfi Bistro & Wine Bar is also set to complete construction on a courtyard area, which will increase seating from 70 to 110 in the venue. The restaurant’s new outdoor setting will also instil an element of alfresco dining. For more information, phone (07) 5588 8333 or visit
www.hotelwatermarkgoldcoast.com.au.
Palazzo Versace
Located on the edge of the Gold Coast’s Broadwater, Palazzo Versace has a variety of conference facilities including a boardroom that seats 12, and the Marco Polo room which caters for 40 banquet-style. Decorated with a gold leaf ceiling and silk wall panelling, and with the ability to split into three well-sized meeting rooms, the La Medusa Ballroom offers the largest space, accommodating 270 banquet-style or 500 cocktail-style. The hotel has 205 hotel suites and 72 condominiums with private balconies, a private marina accessing the Pacific Ocean, three restaurants, a pool bar, Versace boutique store, and the Salus Per Aquum spa. For more information, phone (07) 5509 8000 or visit www.palazzoversace.com.au.
Couran Cove Island Resort
Couran Cove Island Resort is located only 40 minutes by ferry on South Stradbroke Island off the Gold Coast. Its conference and meetings facilities offer a range of settings and spaces, including the main conference venue, the Olympic Room, which is located on the second level of the resort’s conference centre. With views of Couran Cove’s marina and lagoon, this room can cater for 200 theatre-style. The resort also has several outdoor conference space options, including the Pavilion which can cater for up to 300 banquet-style. Couran Cove Island Resort also offers a variety of waterfront guest rooms and suites able to accomodate up to 1300 people, a day spa, swimming pool, an 84-berth marina, tennis courts, and a 22-kilometre surf beach. For more information, phone (07) 5509 3000 or visit www.couran.com.
Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise
Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise gives the flexibility to choose between hotel rooms, suites and self-contained one and two-bedroom apartments, after the completed refurbishment of the Gold Tower. All 378 guest rooms boast private furnished balconies with ocean views. A refurbishment of the Eldoraldo Tower has commenced with rooms featuring rich contemporary earthy tones creating a sense of space and warmth. Refurbishment of the Eldoraldo Tower is due for completion in late 2007. The hotel features nine meeting rooms of varying sizes and outlooks and can cater up to 350 people. The hotel is centrally located between Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise and is within walking distance to the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, fine dining and beaches. For more information, phone (07) 5592 9926 or visit www.crowneplaza.com.au.
For May and June this year only, Sheraton Mirage Resort & Spa Gold Coast is offering groups a special rate of $250 per garden room per night, inclusive of full buffet breakfast for two people in Terraces Restaurant, with further food and beverage discounts and special room upgrades available.
For new bookings of 10 rooms or more, experience the Gold Coast’s five-star beachfront conference venue with this special breakfast inclusive price, and be eligible for one upgrade per 20 rooms materialised per night to a maximum of eight upgrades.
Additional food and beverage bonuses are also available if you hold an evening cocktail or dinner event at the resort. The rate of $250 per room per night is based on single, twin or double share and is subject to availability. To secure this special winter group rate for stays between May 1 and June 30, 2007, phone (07) 5591 1488.
The biggest upgrade of Conrad Jupiters in the 21-year history of the casino and hotel complex has now been completed. The new-look casino held its official opening on November 23, 2006 in conjunction with the venue’s 21st birthday, after the final touches of the $53.5 million refurbishment had been finished.
Highlights of the overall refurbishment project, which began in August 2005, include the new large balconies off the main gaming floor which provide views of Broadbeach, the consolidation of the casino and gaming operations to one floor which created an additional 3500 square metres of space, and the addition of new lounge areas on the gaming floor.
The new northern wing of the casino now features the Quid bar, a stylish cocktail bar with a funky lounge atmosphere, and the new southern wing features Bite, a casual dining restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows and views of Broadbeach. Also new to Conrad Jupiters is the J Bar, located in the centre of the casino.
Conrad Jupiters also has a new outdoor function area, located in the middle of the two new wings of the casino, called Jupiters Cove. It’s a fully-landscaped and turfed area which is great for themed outdoor dinners and team-building activities. A semi-permanent marquee on the hotel’s lawns is also available and provides extra exhibition space or an alternative dinner venue for up to 800 guests. For indoor meetings, Conrad Jupiters’ Pavilion Convention Centre provides a variety of spaces to accommodate groups of half a dozen to more than 2000.
The hotel also offers 594 guest rooms, seven restaurants, eight bars, gymnasium, outdoor pool and spa, 24-hour casino action, and the executive lounge which incorporates a dining area, library, business centre and two dedicated boardrooms. For more information, phone (07) 5592 8502 or visit www.conrad.com.au/jupiters. />
If the thought of sharing the same pool of water with a couple of dolphins puts a smile on your face, then you might like to consider the latest offering from Sea World Resort on the Gold Coast.
The resort is giving away one free adult Dolphin Aqua Adventure when you hold your conference at the venue up until June 30, 2007. To help make this adventure possible, Sea World Resort will also give you a free family holiday to the value of $2000. Furthermore, if a PCO books a conference that qualifies for the Dolphin Aqua Adventure, Sea World Resort will not only give the organiser a free holiday with the dolphin experience, but will also give the same to their client.
The holiday is for two adults and two children and includes buffet breakfast daily in the Shoreline Restaurant, one full-day entry to Sea World plus a tasty welcome gift of strawberries and sparkling wine in your room.
During the dolphin adventure, you will join the dolphins and a Sea World marine mammal trainer in a beach-like pool to experience a unique shallow-water interaction. Then you will get the chance to observe these fascinating animals in a deep-water encounter.
Delegates conferencing at Sea World Resort will also have the chance to enjoy Sea World’s marine life before the park opens with the exclusive morning Shark Bay Encounter.
Australian Shooting Academy
If your idea of fun is shooting at a sheet of paper with a semi-automatic rifle, then the Australian Shooting Academy in Surfers Paradise is for you. Fully-trained range officers will ensure you enjoy this activity in safety. Participants begin shooting at paper retrieval targets and advance to clay targets using shotguns. There’s a range of guns to choose from, including the 357 calibre revolver for which you can get 50 rounds for around $120. For more information, phone (07) 5527 5100 or visit www.australianshootingacademy.com.au.
V8 Super School
Located among the sugarcane fields at Norwell midway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the purpose-built Holden Performance Driving Centre provides a range of driving programs that are designed to offer groups a unique motoring experience. The convention and incentive market is catered for with a number of corporate packages, structured for groups ranging from 10 to 150 participants, including 4WD courses, skid pan experience, circuit training and V8 SS sports laps. The new edition of the V8 Super School means the centre also offers groups the opportunity to drive or ride as a passenger in a race-replica V8 super car. For more information, phone (07) 5546 1366 or visit www.performancedriving.com.au.
Byron Bay Ballooning
Only 45 minutes from the Gold Coast, Byron Bay Ballooning has about 25 different launch sites within a 50-kilometre radius of Byron Bay. Delegates who desire to jump into the wicker basket of one of Byron Bay Ballooning’s hot air balloons can do so for an early morning flight. They will be invited to assist the pilot and crew to prepare the balloon for flight, and then after a gentle launch into the sky, their flying experience will last for around an hour. After landing in a farmer’s field, delegates will be treated to a breakfast at the five-star guest house, Victoria’s, with complimentary glass of champagne. For more information, phone (02) 6684 7880 or visit www.byronbayballooning.com.
Tropical Fruit World
Tropical Fruit World is a farm that has been nurtured by five generations of the one family for over 30 years. Claiming to be the home of the world’s largest variety of tropical fruit, Tropical Fruit World offers guided safaris through their tropical plantations, where depending on the season, groups could find avocadoes, 50 different varieties of mango, dragon fruit, groves of chocolate pudding fruit, chewing gum fruit, mamey sapote, canistel, star apples and sleeping trees. The venue also sees groups spotting wild birds on the Jungle River Cruise, riding the miniature train and embarking on rainforest walks. For more information, phone (02) 6677 7222 or visit www.tropicalfruitworld.com.au.
 
CEO of the Australian Drilling Industry Association, Simon Fitzgerald and his staff of just one knew they had their work cut out for them when they started organising their annual national conference. But the right location and the right attitude proved to be a winning combination for the Drill 2006 conference held at Radisson Resort Gold Coast. Mr Fitzgerald said that the Gold Coast was chosen because he wanted to encourage delegates to bring family along.
“The Gold Coast is unequalled… if you’re trying to attract partners and families, there’s no other Australian location that’s as good.”
He checked out nine venues on the Gold Coast and three on the Sunshine Coast, and finally made the decision to go with Radisson Resort Gold Coast because he felt they were empathetic to what he was trying to achieve with the conference. And at the time of the event, the hotel’s general manager “hooked in” and helped out as part of the team.
The resort even allowed for a seven-tonne drill rig and 12.5-metre truck to be placed in front of the porte-cochere, which Mr Fitzgerald said worked a treat with delegates. With a total roll-up of 260, the Gold Coast proved the perfect incentive for the Drill 2006 gathering. After two days of formal papers, an AGM, a function outside by the pool, a gala dinner, and lots of positive feedback from delegates, Mr Fitzgerald and his team of one headed back to Frankston, Victoria satisfied with the success of their event.
ALTO Cucina & Bar
ALTO first opened in November 2004, and is a popular venue for locals and visitors to the Broadbeach area. The restaurant has a long list of cocktails to choose from, and can arrange a variety of menus for functions and cocktail parties. The restaurant’s head chef, Gary Martin is a local who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. Phone (07) 5539 0377 or visit www.altocucina.com.au.
Q1 Skybar
Q1 Skybar (pictured above), located on Level 77 of Q1 Observation Deck, provides a great venue for a relaxing drink with amazing Gold Coast views. During the day groups can enjoy illy coffee and a great selection of delicious cakes, or perhaps a cheese platter and cocktails at sunset. On Friday and Saturday nights, Q1 Skybar is the place to be seen on the Gold Coast, playing house music while you watch the city lights shimmering in the night sky. Phone (07) 5570 4800 or visit www.q1observationdeck.com.au.
Volare Restaurant
Open since 1992, multi-award-winning Volare Restaurant offers Italian cuisine specialities to diners. It is located directly opposite the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, and offers to prepare menus to suit the requirements of events and functions. The restaurant has a seating capacity of 200, with private rooms also available for smaller groups. Phone (07) 5592 2622 or visit
www.volarerestaurant.com.au.
Songbirds in the Forest
Songbirds in the Forest at Mount Tamborine is a half-hour drive from the Gold Coast and less than an hour from Brisbane. The restaurant offers a feast for the senses with five-star dining on a 50-acre rainforest property. Conference menus are available for 10 or more people, and as the multi-award-winning restaurant’s menu changes with the seasons, you’re bound to try something different even if you’ve been there before. Phone (07) 5545 2563 or visit www.songbirds.com.au.
The Gold Coast set out to reinforce its focus on driving business on a global scale when it brought almost 1000 Australian and international business practitioners, CEOs and senior executives together during February for a two-day event of leadership seminars and networking opportunities.
Incorporating a golf challenge with Wayne Grady at Lakelands Golf Club, a welcome dinner at the VeryGC Dome Pavilion, and a full-day business forum at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC), the inaugural VeryGC Global Business Insights 2007 aimed to provide Asia Pacific corporates with a unique business insights event. The business forum was headlined by a question and answer segment with Dr Alan Greenspan live from the US via satellite and moderated by renowned BBC World presenter Nik Gowing. Other key speakers at the event included management expert Ricardo Semler and Michael ‘Kell’ Ryan, formerly of Ryanair.
The global business insights forum was not restricted to delegates on the Gold Coast, as audiences in Auckland, Hong Kong and Singapore were fortunate enough to view some of the presentations via satellite. Each city held a respective networking lunch incorporating the speeches from the Gold Coast event with those from various key speakers of their own.
Auckland enjoyed a discussion with Rod McGeogh, leader of Sydney’s successful Olympics 2000 bid and best-selling business author, while Singapore heard from Phillip Overmyer, executive director of Singapore International Chamber of Commerce, and Hong Kong was treated to a presentation by Dr Raymond Lee, Chairman of Oasis Hong Kong Airlines.
CEO of Gold Coast Tourism, Pavan Bhatia says that following the success of the inaugural event, planning for the 2008 set of multi-national events is already underway.
 
It hasn’t been opened for three years yet, but the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) has already announced an imminent expansion to its existing facilities. An increasing trend for larger space and concurrent sessions during conventions and incentives has prompted the Queensland State Government to commence construction proceedings to extend the centre. Details of the extension were revealed at press conference held during AIME in February this year, where Adrienne Readings, general manager of GCCEC announced that the expansion couldn’t come sooner, considering the venue has lost an estimated $20 million worth of business to date due to inadequate exhibition space.
“The market trend is indicating events are getting larger, booth sizes are getting larger, and the program is getting larger. We as a venue also need to become larger to meet the market’s needs,” Ms Readings said.
The $40 million expansion project will see the GCCEC doubling its exhibition space to 6000 square metres by mid-2008, and provide two additional halls with an exhibition capacity of 10,000 square metres. This expansion was in the planning long before it was approved, with the concrete slab for the space having been poured during the original building construction in 2004. Once the extension has been completed, the venue will be in the position to cater for 4000 banquet-style. With a 10-month build expected, the extension will generate approximately 600 full-time jobs during construction and an additional 750 in operation. The venue’s first piece of business post-construction has been booked in for July 2008.
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