Australian and New Zealand convention and incentive groups are spoilt for choice when it comes to exotic islands well-suited to meetings and special events. Like all events, access is of paramount importance. Coupled with first-rate facilities the choices are seemingly endless. Below are a few examples of destinations with a difference.
The Cook Islands
The Cook Islands has never been a hugely popular destination for Australian corporate meetings and it should be.
The Cook Islands is composed of 15 islands scattered over two million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean, flanked to the west by Tonga and Samoa and to the east by Tahiti and the islands of French Polynesia.
Rarotonga is the vibrant centre of the Cook Islands, and is just 32 kilometres in circumference. Encircled by a reef, which harbours a lagoon of clear turquoise waters and many inviting white sand beaches, it is often described as heaven on earth.
For conference groups The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa on Rarotonga is hard to beat. This four-star full service resort is set directly on the beautiful white sandy shores of Aroa Lagoon, or as it is often known, the Lagoon of Love, on Rarotonga’s sunshine coast. Expansively laid out amidst six acres of hibiscus, banana and coconut palms, none of the resort’s buildings are higher than two storeys, and most of The Rarotongan’s 156 rooms and suites are set on absolute beachfront. As part of The Rarotongan’s continuing upgrade it features a new, boldly colourful Pacific aesthetic combined with the charm of Polynesian-style architecture.
The Rarotongan is close to all island adventures and attractions and is just over 10 minutes drive from the international airport and downtown Avarua. Visit www.therarotonga.com for further details.
Another excellent property for groups on Aitutaki Island, about 45 minutes flying time from Rarotonga, is The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa.
The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa rests on its own private island of Akitua encircled by champagne-sand beaches and enjoying commanding views of the expansive, magnificent lagoon. The resort is the only one directly on Aitutaki Lagoon, and comes complete with the Cook Islands’ only overwater bungalows, and Aitutaki’s only spa.
The resort’s 37 bungalows offer a distinctively Polynesian experience with spacious interiors, thatched rooves and tropical style furnishings. The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa is said to be perfect for small to medium-sized groups, and is especially tailor-made for incentive travel rewards.
Visit www.aitutakilagoonresort.com for further details.
New Caledonia
Like the Cook Islands, New Caledonia is pretty much an untapped resource for meetings and incentive groups from the Australian market. And it shouldn’t be.
Just two hours from Brisbane and a little longer from Sydney and Melbourne, New Caledonia is in an ideal location to serve the conference and incentive industry. It offers western-standard infrastructure in a tropical island location, and a unique combination of Melanesian culture and French lifestyle.
And the good news is that New Caledonia is stepping up support for the meetings sector with the creation of a new specialist scheme for professional conference organisers.
Modelled on New Caledonia’s successful scheme for travel agents, the new program offers a range of benefits and rewards for PCOs while providing increased backing for their clients.
Its introduction represents the next phase in New Caledonia’s strategy to further develop its business events industry. It follows last year’s appointment of a dedicated Sydney-based business development manager for the MICE sector, who launched a new sales drive and helped put New Caledonia on track to double event bookings for 2007.
New Caledonia Tourism Australian manager Diane Moynihan says the new Specialist PCO Scheme offer exclusive benefits to participants and will boost support for events staged in New Caledonia.
“The scheme gives PCOs a whole range of advantages including preferred status on famils, value-ad rewards for clients, support for client site inspections and exclusive offers from suppliers,” Ms Moynihan says.
“We’ll offer promotional and marketing support, corporate referrals from our Australian office, education and information, and access to the best industry rates and special offers.”
To join the scheme PCOs need to arrange a sales meeting with New Caledonia’s business development manager, participate in an educational visit to New Caledonia, and either have confirmed a New Caledonian event in the past three years or confirm one within two years of joining.
The new scheme is backed by an expanded section on the New Caledonia website where specialist PCOs can log-on to access exclusive offers and rewards, the latest industry news, product and venue information, and a range of services and tools.
The new MICE Incentive Scheme means event organisers can choose from a range of free extras to incorporate into their conference or incentive, based on their delegate numbers and room nights. Delegates can enjoy the pounding rhythms of traditional Melanesian dancers, explore the sights aboard the Nouméa Explorer, be welcomed at the airport with floral garlands or traditional music, or have their event recorded with professional photography.
Event organisers can choose a range of quality promotional items and gifts such as branded clothing, petanque sets or wine and cheese sets, or they can make use of practical bonuses like internet access and mobile phone SIM cards.
Details of New Caledonia’s new services for conference and incentive groups are included on its dedicated website for Australian travellers www.newcaledonia.com.au. PCOs can register for the Specialist Scheme by visiting www.newcaledonia.com.au/meetingsincentives or by contacting New Caledonia Tourism on 1800 673 745.
Fiji
Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa’s director of conferencing sales Natalie Brumniach reports that despite the recent government travel advice to Fiji from Australia, interest and quote requests from the MICE market have risen an impressive 45 per cent in the early part of 2007.
Ms Brumniach says there is still tremendous support and interest for Fiji, with group business picking up almost daily.
Red Bull chose to hold their annual event at the Sofitel Fiji in February and pharmaceutical giant Smith & Nephew has decided to return to the property for its second Fijian conference at the resort in less than 12 months.
Ms Brumniach says the resort is working to convert continued interest in the resort into increased bookings by consistently reminding potential conferencing clients that the region has not been issued with a travel ‘warning’ but rather a travel ‘advice’ from DFAT to keep things in perspective.
“A travel advice is just that, advice, and better still does not actually have an impact on securing insurance cover for groups who want to visit the destination on business,” she says.
“The issue with insurance stems from the search for ‘Coup Insurance’, something unavailable to groups as it doesn’t exist, and according to our independent research, not one group to date has actually been refused insurance travel to Fiji.”
The Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa is located on Denarau Island, a short distance from the airport. It blends tradition with the most modern technologies for a tropical retreat that really does offer it all.
A private waterfront location and the Pacific’s largest lagoon-style pool are a prelude to the sanctuary that is Sofitel Fiji’s stylish range of rooms and suites, each boasting a refreshing ocean view.
World class dining, a sublime International Day Spa, and an unsurpassed range of adrenalin pumping activities make for an unforgettable experience. The resort’s premier event and conference facilities, including a stunning ballroom and beachfront chapel, set Sofitel apart in a league of its own.
Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa boasts the largest conference facilities in Fiji with amenities flexible enough to suit up to 720 guests. With the stunning Pacific Ocean as a backdrop, the Grand Ballroom can host dinners of up to 640 guests banquet style. Meeting options are endless with private gardens and verandahs to complement eight meeting rooms available to host events and functions.
Visit www.sofitelfiji.com.fj for further details.
<< Top |