Daily News & Opinion

In collaboration with leading nutritional experts, Adelaide Convention Centre has developed a healthy, ‘house made’ menu which will be launched next month. The ‘Honest Goodness’ menu was created by executive chef Gavin Robertson, and focusses on minimum intervention foods that are low in salts, sugars and preservatives. Sugar-laden drinks have been swapped out for ice teas and fruit infused waters, natural rubs and house-made marinades have replaced ingredients featuring nitrates and processed meats have been swapped for smoked and roasted meats.

The launch of Intercontinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort this month marked the 1000th IHG property to open in the EMEAA region. The group boasts eight brands and works with over 500 hotel owners in EEMEA, with another 321 hotels in the pipeline. The new property is located on the picturesque Phu Quoc island, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve off the coast of Vietnam. Six restaurants and bars and state-of-the-art meeting facilities make up its luxurious offerings.

CEO of Tourism Noosa Damien Massingham announced his resignation yesterday, following a six year tenure with the organisation. Damien will be returning to the Queensland Club Industry to take up the role of general manager at Frenchville Sports Club. On his resignation, Damien said “Being part of a team that has produced new, award winning and innovative marketing campaigns resulting in an increase in high value… visitors which in turn has created and retained local jobs has been very rewarding.”

In preparation for the opening of its $200 million expansion next month, MCEC has invested in a suite of new technologies. The new spaces will feature 4k laser projectors, LED-based theatrical lighting equipment and fully-integrated rigging infrastructure, in order to provide customisable event spaces. The centre is also investing $2 million to improve Wi-Fi capabilities. MCEC chief executive Peter King said “The new expansion has allowed us to… meet the technical needs of today’s customer and continuously adapt into the future.”

micenet staff were sad to learn of the news that Louis Allen passed away on Sunday evening at his home in Vietnam. Louis was a fixture in the business event sector for many years in Australia before taking on the role of editor of Executive PA magazine and later moving to Vietnam to live and work. At industry trade shows and educationals he could always be found with a camera in his hand and a trilby hat on his head.

June 18 marked two decades in the business for Darwin Convention Centre, a venue responsible for hosting hundreds of conferences a year and injecting millions of dollars into the local economy. Since its 2008 opening, over 680,000 people have attended events at the venue, including the Dalai Lama. Darwin Convention Centre general manager Janet Hamilton said “All of the employees who have worked at the centre over the last ten years have worked very hard to create a world-class convention centre.”

This year’s Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) Leaders Forum and Conference saw more senior government, industry and business leaders in attendance than ever before. In alignment with Global Exhibitions Day, 2018’s instalment gave Members the opportunity to raise specific policy matters, including skills and talent, visas and funding for programs to support the sector. EEAA chief executive Joyce DiMascio said “There is no doubt Global Exhibitions Day has given us an opportunity for more cut-through at all levels of Government.”

Believe it or not, the title isn’t clickbait. Bayleaf Sydney, an event catering company that specialises in contemporary Australian cuisine, is offering a complimentary cocktail on arrival for all events booked for over 150 guests. The company offers a range of canapé, conference and interactive dining options for corporate groups, all of which are curated by professional catering veteran Chris Stubbs. This offer is valid for events that are booked until the end of September this year (so, you know, get moving.)