New Zealand’s Wellington will soon be able to compete with some of the big boys with news that a new convention and exhibition centre has been given the green light. Construction of the 18,000-square-metre venue is set to begin in 2019.
If you build it, they will come. Well, with a little bit of marketing.
ICMS Australasia recently won the Best Congress or Conference at the Australian Event Awards for its management of the 2018 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA 2018). Held in May at the BCEC the event attracted more than 3000 attendees from over 60 countries.
Congrats to ICMSA and all the recent award winners.
Qantas yesterday announced a second direct service between Sydney and the Sunshine Coast. The new service, which is expected to begin in March 2019, is reportedly well timed to take advantage of international connections.
A win-win for the Sunshine Coast, especially the business event sector.
Organisers who book an event at The Langham Melbourne between January 1 and September 30, 2019, will go in the draw to win a trip for two to California. The holiday will include two return airfares to Los Angeles International Airport and four nights’ accommodation for two at The Langham Huntington. To qualify, the booking must include a minimum of $10,000 worth of guest accommodation and $4000 in catering. The prize will be drawn on October 7, 2019.
This is not a drill. Get onto it!
The iconic ‘Roundhouse’ Council Administrative Centre in Newcastle will be converted into a luxury five-star hotel operated by Crystalbrook Collection Hotels and Resorts come 2020. Kingsley, a Crystalbrook Collection Hotel, is predicted to house at least 100 luxury rooms, with the building conveniently situated near the City Hall, Civic Theatre and Art Gallery. On the announcement, lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes said “Crystalbrook’s decision to invest in Newcastle, when they could have invested anywhere in Australia, says so much about our city.”
This is the most exciting thing for Novocastrians since the 97 grand final. And I’m a Manly supporter.
Boutique hospitality brand Ovolo Hotels has invested $5 million in the nation’s capital, announcing a major revitalisation project for Ovolo Nishi. The revamp will include the development of 17 design-driven rooms, which will be replete with multi-purpose writing desks, mini bars and Indian-woven string dual-purpose day beds, and a new-look Monster Bar + Kitchen, the renowned dining facility helmed by executive chef Daniel Flatt. The restaurant’s lounge and salon also fall within the multi-million-dollar boost, encompassing a relaxed ambience.
It’s not just year six camps headed to Canberra anymore.
Respected online publication U.S. News & World has given a coveted nod to Australia, listing the Kimberley’s El Questro Wilderness Park as one of its ‘50 Most Scenic Mountain Resorts’ in the world. On the Kununurra-located resort, the publication said “This vast property offers adventurous pursuits like hikes to waterfalls and thermal hot springs, helicopter and airplane tours, horseback riding and four-wheel-drive excursions.” U.S. News & World has a monthly audience of nearly 24 million.
The equivalent of Australia’s population read that magazine every month. Just let that sink in.
The Associated Celebrity Booking Platform (A.C.T.A), an entertainment booking app which launched this year on November 22, will feature as a highlight of EVOLVE 2019’s conference program. The app, which has been likened to Uber in terms of disruption, allows for simple searching and booking of celebrities, musicians, MCs and keynote speakers. A.C.T.A, along with other new technologies in the event space, will be showcased at the conference. CEO and founder of A.C.T.A Harris Meitanis has also been confirmed as a speaker.
I wonder if it, like Uber, will annoy a lot of people. Usually an indication that you’re doing something right.