Daily News & Opinion

Almost a third of the winners at this year’s Australian Event Awards ceremony – which took place this week at Novotel Twin Towers on the Sunshine Coast – hailed from the host state. The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games took out the TFH Hire Services Best Sporting Event, TAFE Queensland was recognised for their innovative and immersive training partnership with the Games and the Sunshine Coast Regional Council was awarded for marketing, communication or sponsorship for its work on Horizon.

Are you interested in showcasing your destination to more than 300 leading editors, writers, digital influencers, photographers, broadcasters and PR professionals from around Australia and the world? If so, you may want to look into securing The Australian Society of Travel Writers (ASTW) 2020 Annual Convention and famil program. The society has put out the casting call to destinations with facilities to host all elements of the event, the capacity to offer a tourism destination to Australian market and famil program options.

This Sunday, the Christchurch City Promenade – a two kilometre shared pathway running along Oxford Terrace – will officially open to the public. To mark the occasion, Ōtākaro Limited will be facilitating a scavenger hunt with $10,000 worth of prizes. The promenade, which has been built to improve access to the river and make it a central feature of the city, involved around 500 trees being planted, 600,000 pavers being laid and 34 artworks being installed. Around 20 musical acts will complement festivities.

Gregory Gubiani, a hospitality veteran with over 14 years of experience, has taken over the post of general manager at The Westin Kuala Lumpur. Gregory’s impressive resume includes stints at Starwood Hotels and Resorts, The Westin Melbourne and The Westin Auckland Lighter Quay, and he is also fluent in French, Italian, English and is knowledgeable in Spanish and German. Gregory was also the recipient of the General Manager Leadership Awards in 2017, and favours a cup of coffee (or several) each day.

New Zealand’s newest design-driven hotel SO/Auckland has rolled out the red carpet and welcomed its first guests in the heart of the city. SO/Auckland marks the seventh addition to the SO collection around the world, and is the first in the Pacific region. The hotel’s design plays on a volcanic theme, and guests can choose from an array of room styles including Vapour, Liquid and Solid. SO/Auckland also boasts a rooftop bar and a restaurant helmed by French chef Marc De Passorio.

Buyers attending AIME 2019 can officially log in to the event’s meetings software and begin booking their 32 scheduled appointments. Meeting preferences for next year’s event have opened earlier than ever before, with the bespoke Centium Software algorithm carefully matching the preferences of buyers to the services and capabilities of exhibitors. AIME’s partnership with Centium Software is one of many new elements that are part of its refreshed event strategy.

The world’s first hotel built into an abandoned quarry has opened its doors in Shanghai. Developed by Shimao Group and managed by IHG, InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland stretches 88 metres underground and includes 16 floors below land and two underwater. Each of the hotel’s 336 rooms provide views of waterfalls and the surrounding Sheshan Mountain Range, as well as ample living space. The hotel has been nominated as one of the architectural wonders of the world by the National Geographic Channel.

Acclaimed executive and personal coach, speaker and author Kemi Nekvapil has been announced as the latest speaker for EVOLVE 2019, MEA’s annual conference set to take place in Brisbane next year. Kemi has been working in the wellness industry for more than 23 years, and has published two books: The Gift of Asking, which explores what it takes for women to create a life they love, and Raw Beauty, which details the seven principles to nourish your body.