Daily News & Opinion

To relieve the stress and uncertainty around running an event during COVID-19, Sydney Showground has launched a range of support options for events booked before the end of 2021. Some of the venue’s special offers include financial assistance, no fee event postponement for up to three months prior, multiple event agreements and additional social distancing space to encourage event bookings.

Tourism New Zealand has hopped aboard the podcast/audio experience train by launching a Spotify channel – allowing listeners to experience New Zealand without stepping on a plane. The album – Mindful Journeys – features four meditative audio tracks designed to transport listeners to New Zealand. Through the soundscapes, listeners will journey through the North and South Islands, being calmed through sounds unique to New Zealand including native birds, bubbling geothermal mud pools and the gentle sound of the breeze moving through the forest.

Despite the impact of COVID-19, Mayvin Global, a consultancy specialising in the delivery of commercial and revenue generation solutions across tourism, business events, associations and the arts, has opened a third office in Darwin. With offices already in Sydney and the Gold Coast, Mayvin Global recognised the opportunity to support Northern Territory’s business events and tourism sectors at a time when most companies around Australia are reducing their growth investments.

The Events Centre Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast opened its doors over the weekend to welcome hundreds of patrons who attended the venue’s first live performance in more than four months. The event was a live performance by powerhouse vocalists Tenori, with 270 audience members in attendance. The centre is one of only a handful of Queensland theatres that have reopened their doors following the introduction of a Covid-safe plan, which includes social distancing, sanitisation protocols and contact tracing.

In response to the unprecedented demand for integrated event solutions, the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) has expanded its hybrid and virtual event capabilities. The venue now boasts the ability to bring in remote presenters, stream events to public platforms and/or provide private secure streaming and tools via its high-bandwidth fibre optic internet connection.

Business events operators in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef have been welcoming visitors at venues and accommodation which are all operating under Queensland’s COVID-Safe plans. Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef’s general manager Rosie Douglas said there was strong interest in the destination for events as planners looked to regional areas where delegates could enjoy space. This month Cairns Airport celebrated the completion of the $55 million T2 Domestic Terminal upgrade after 18 months of construction and three years of planning

Last week Hamilton Island welcomed its first business event since its re-opening on August 1, 2020. The annual Hannay Lawyers conference took place, with guests journeying from Brisbane and utilising the island’s Stay Well procedures. Principal-director of Hannay Lawyers Daniel Hannay commented: “The hospitality, staff attentiveness and COVID-19 safety plan that was in place meant that all our guests felt safe and very comfortable travelling to Hamilton Island.”

Fraser Suites Sydney has undergone a $4 million refurbishment. All 201 suites have been refreshed with new bedheads, sofas, coffee tables, chairs, desks, carpet and decorative lights. The new-look rooms are complemented by refreshed pool and gym facilities and updated meeting rooms featuring the latest InFocus smartboard technology. Fraser Suites Sydney boasts eight event spaces, the largest of which is 95-pax The Mezzanine.