NAME: Mortgage Choice National Conference
THEME: 2007: A Licence to Grow
TYPE: Professional development conference
NO. ON ORGANISING TEAM: Five from CiEvents and nine from Mortgage Choice organisation committee.
PAX: 601 attendees for the gala night, around 550 for the plenary sessions and other evening events.
BUDGET: TOP SECRET
WHAT YOU DID: Each year, mortgage broker Mortgage Choice runs its annual national conference at which they have around 500 delegates during the day and around 600-plus delegates at night. The organisation’s most recent conference was held in late January this year and was in Perth for the very first time.
In 2007, the conference was themed “A licence to grow” – a twist on the Bond theme, chosen because of the current year of 2007. Franchise owners, loan consultants, staff and sponsors attended the much-anticipated event, which consisted of professional development activities and evening events.
The welcome function saw attendees enjoy a scenic bus tour from the conference base, Perth’s Burswood Entertainment Complex, to Fremantle’s Oyster Bar for a night of indulgence. Party-goers sampled local wines, beer, produce, games and the Fremantle Doctor (or ‘Docker’, for some) while being pampered by local masseurs and beauty therapists and entertained by a local DJ.
Day one of the conference opened with a lively performance by MCs Explosive Minds then a presentation on the company’s brand and reputation by Tony Crossley, chief operating officer of Mortgage Choice featuring his renowned dry wit and hard facts.
State Business Excellence Award winners were announced to a rousing applause, and then learning expert Glenn Capelli gave an inspirational talk on growth strategies in a “sometimes crazy world”.
A range of business skills sessions from sales to succession planning followed, resulting in many hurriedly writing notes and planning to incorporate changes to their business.
The gala night transformed Burswood’s grand ballroom into a James Bond-esque ice bar, featuring a misty igloo entrance and Bond girl dancers. Mortgage Choice’s national Business Excellence Awards saw an impressive Queensland landslide of winners, and the annual National Franchise of the Year award went out to a franchise owned by Russell Passfield and Rod Poxon.
Bjorn Again played a spectacular set, and then many of the 600 guests headed to Burswood Casino’s Ruby Room nightclub.
Day two of the conference kicked off to a solid start with fervent discussion at three roundtable sessions facilitated by topic-experienced franchisees. Well-known businessman and columnist Phil Ruthven gave a thought-provoking presentation on the present and future business environment. Chief executive officer of Mortgage Choice, Paul Lahiff put a strategic focus on a licence to grow, and motivational speaker and personality Justin Herald spoke candidly of his journey to make the impossible possible.
Fremantle Prison hosted the closing function, with attendees enjoying a tour and then dinner in the exercise yards, where the Mortgage Choice band played and Raw Talent Time performed hilarious skits.
SPECIAL TOUCHES: Mortgage Choice arranged to have exclusive access to the top floor of the Burswood Casino’s Ruby Room nightclub for every night of the conference. Guests were only too keen to kick back and relax in the bar after a day’s conferencing, and often headed back to the bar after the evenings’ events had concluded.
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