The dinner for 120 attendees was delivered in an unusual formation – with tables of varying sizes set around a central podium stage dominated by a white piano.
The night was big on entertainment – featuring a performance by a teen prodigy pianist who has built audience interaction into his classical set, alongside an ensemble cast including a singer, a saxophonist, tap dancers and acrobatic dancers, culminating in a spectacular Moulin Rouge inspired performance after dinner.
The night was also big on industry names, with faces from the across the industry – with city, country and international convention centre general managers in attendance, as well as retired industry legends, staff from multiple convention bureaux, suppliers, more than a dozen current and former ICMS Australasia staff and past, current and potential clients of the PCO. micenet also attended.
As current ICMSA owner and CEO, Emma Bowyer, told the event’s guests, in a humorous and, at times, off-the-cuff speech, “over 60 years, it hasn’t always been a smooth ride”.
“We have faced our share of challenges, most completely beyond our control…airline strikes, natural disasters, political coups, wars, pandemics…and I know there will be surprises ahead,” she said.
“But we’ll be ready… Resilience is part of ICMS Australasia. It’s woven into our DNA.
“My job is simply to stay the course, to honour the tradition, protect ICMS Australasia and what makes it special and to continue to lead from the front.”
Bowyer credited ICMSA’s staff and their creativity, intelligence, experience, commercial instincts and “an unwavering determination to excel” as reasons why the business stood out.
“There is one other thing we have always done very well – throw a bloody good party,” she said.
“At a time when people are tightening their belts, watching costs and increasingly retreating to a virtual world, I decided there was really only one sensible thing to do and that was to throw a soirée.
“To get dressed up, to be in a room together, to hear the clink of the glass, it’s one of life’s great pleasures. May we never forget that,” said Bowyer.
“In a world that can feel increasingly homogenous, conferences give us the opportunity to do something different. To bring people together in new ways and to demonstrate the unique ICMS Australasia combination of flair, finesse and fun.”
Bowyer also paid tribute to former ICMSA owner, Bryan Holliday, who died in 2019.
“I fell in love with him, I married him and it still remains one of the best decisions I have ever made,” she said.
“Through Bryan, I discovered this fabulous industry and very quickly fell in love with that too.
“Although I’ve lost him, continuing the legacy we built together remains the great joy of my life. I feel enormously privileged to be able to carry that forward.”
