Daily News & Opinion

The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) has announced three finalists for the Unsung Hero Award in the 2019 EEAA Awards for Excellence. The finalists are senior manager planning for the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) Elissa Duke; head of catering and customer service for Sydney Showground Dwane Goodman; and managing director at Zadro Communications Felicity Zadro. The winner will be announced at the EEAA Awards for Excellence gala dinner in December.

The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) has been recognised as Queensland’s leading business event venue, winning gold at the 2019 Queensland Tourism Awards on Friday night. General manager at the GCCEC Adrienne Readings said she was extremely proud to see GCCEC win this coveted award and is looking forward to the Australian Tourism Awards in Canberra early next year. In the 2019 financial year, the centre contributed more than $325,000,000 in economic benefit.

Rydges today announced that after winning a competitive bid, it has entered into a management agreement which will see the Holiday Inn Old Sydney re-branded as Rydges Sydney Harbour on January 14, 2020. Plans are already underway for a refurbishment of the 176 guest room property, which will include a revitalisation of the hotel bars and restaurant. An announcement regarding the general manager for the property will be made before the end of the year.

Australia’s largest private hotel owner Dr Jerry Schwartz has added a second Gold Coast hotel to his portfolio, the Surfers Paradise-situated Paradise Resort. The 360-room property was previously owned by property developers the Ralan Group, who went into administration in August 2019. Dr Schwartz acquired the property for $43 million. The addition of Paradise Resort will increase the Schwartz Family Company network to 15 hotels and more than 3500 rooms in four states and territories.

Parramatta is emerging as a hot MICE destination, and the recent refurb of Novotel Sydney Parramatta serves to further its appeal. The $6.5 million upgrade is centred on its guest rooms, with all 194 given a new look with plush textures and soothing colours to create a sense of calm. Further touches include crisp new bed linens, soft spreads and desks illuminated by both natural and assisted light sources.

After eight years in the role, chief executive of The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) Joyce DiMascio has announced that she will step down from December. Joyce will take up another position in the events industry, and said that she is pleased to leave the organisation stronger and more respected. “With my team, I have done my “personal best” and it’s time to pass the baton to the next CEO to continue to build on the current momentum,” she said.

Qantas has vowed to have zero carbon emissions by 2050 but is this really possibly considering the company will be doing so by offsetting its emission output? A report in The Conversation says the airline sector uses five million barrels of oil a day, contributing around 2.5 per cent of total carbon emissions.

Adelaide Festival Centre’s OzAsia Festival now holds the title of the state’s best major event following its success at the South Australian Tourism Awards 2019. OzAsia Festival 2018 was named the winner of Major Festivals and Events at the weekend and will go on to compete at the Australian Tourism Awards to be held in March next year.