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VO LU M E 1 SUMMER IN THE TROPICS

event

BY S H A N G R I - L A

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S H AN G R I - L A T H E M A R I N A , CA I R NS www.shangri-la.com/cairns | 07 4052 7769 | events.slmc@shangri-la.com

Discover 6

Meet The Team

What’s New

Event Here This Year

Why Choose TNQ

Day Trips From Shangri-La

The Drive To Explore

Masters Of The Reef

Plan To Succeed

Venue Wrap

Work This Way

Far North Flavours

Seeking Sustainability

CONTRIBUTORS Crystal Lay, Sarah Nicholson, Brian Crisp, Catherine Coombs, Jace Films, Somethings Wild, Toby Stanley, Threadless Films, Totally Creative, Tourism Australia, Tourism Events Queensland, Tourism Tropical North Queensland. Printed on recycled paper

With Australia Next at your fingertips you can discover the latest venues, restaurants and accommodation options for groups; along with a wealth of tips and ideas from Australian industry experts and a three-day program in Cairns – the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

Read the latest edition of austRalia next now

Green Island

Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel, Great Barrier Reef, QLD

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

Meet the Team Ross Miles-Cadman GENERAL MANAGER

Robert Miletic

Ross became our General Manager

AREA DIRECTOR OF SALES

in 2019 after spending the past two

& MARKETING

decades abroad working in fivestar hotels from San Francisco to Shanghai. ross.miles-cadman@shangri-la.com

BUSINESS Events Australia research is telling us Australian organisations are ready to get together. The BEA’s Domestic Corporate Senti-

Melanie DeCourcy DIRECTOR OF SALES This New South Wales native started her career at Yulara in the shadow of Uluru and has been a member of our team for 15 years. melanie.decourcy@shangri-la.com

ment Research, released last October, shows an “encouraging 81 per cent of decision-makers are planning events one to two years from now” with that number a 6 per cent hike on the May 2021 data. Taking that further, 60 per cent of businesses claim future events will involve “some form of travel”.

Monyna Giner-Tan DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT From Europe to Asia and now Australia, Mon has been in the hotel industry for 30 years. monyna.giner-tan@shangri-la.com

At Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns we’re seeing this sentiment reflected in the inquiries currently received by our Director of Business Development Monyna Giner-Tan. And we’re ready to host, with an experienced team that’s at full strength

Aaron Habgood

and working full time.

EXECUTIVE CHEF

So, take the time to flip through Event

Aaron worked in hotel kitchens

by Shangri-La, our magazine funded

across Sydney and London before

by a Tourism Australia Boost grant, to

moving here in 2013 and says Shan-

see what we offer here in Cairns.

gri-La The Marina, Cairns helped him find his “own true style”.

Rachel Renton FOOD & BEVERAGE MANAGER Venues along the Queensland coast – from Noosa to Hamilton Island – have been home to Rachel since taking on her first hospitality leadership role in 2006.

THE HE NAT ATUR URAALL PLLAACCEE MEETT T OO MEE Beempowered empoweredthrough throughnew new learnings Be learnings andenriched enrichedwith withgenuine genuineconnections. connections. and Surrounding great, Surroundingyour yourteam teamwith with great, leaves leavesyour yourbusiness businessgreater. greater.

WO WORRKK GGRREEATATL LE EAVAVE EG GR RE AT E ATE RE R

BUSINESSEVENTSCAIRNS.ORG. AU BUSINESSEVENTSCAIRNS.ORG. AU

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

YOUR TNQ moment

Picnic at Paronella Park

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

Tablelands Treats A Tablelands favourite has moved to Cairns with Mungalli Creek Biodynamic Dairy opening a milk bar in the city. The Dairy is a stone’s throw f rom the Esplanade’s upgraded dining precinct and offers the company’s signature tropical icecream varieties as well as cheese, yogurt and sweet treats.

Underwater World Cairns Aquarium has created a new behind-the-scenes tour with Marine Life Encounter, including hand feeding cownose stingrays and visiting the Cairns Turtle Hospital.

WHAT’S NEW IN TNQ

Inlet Interlude Cairns River Cruises offers another way to float by offering daytime and sunset sightseeing cruises on Trinity Inlet. The company’s new vessel is also available for private charter.

Drive Time Online A dedicated website shining a spotlight on North Queensland’s diverse road trips has been launched, with the Drive North Queensland site featuring iconic itineraries like The Great Barrier Reef Drive as well as options in the outback and Whitsundays.

Reef Recovery Recon Experienced certif ied divers can join conservationists assessing the health of the Great Barrier Reef during a new Passions of Paradise

tour, with participants monitoring coral planting initiated by the Coral Nature Program during a full-day trip that visits locations around the outer reef.

HL/SF/400 wor TTNQ esplanad

Event by Shangri-La asks Robin Mack, Tourism Australia’s Executive General Manager Commercial & Business Events Australia, to share insights into the ongoing efforts to urge Aussies to Event Here This Year again in 2022.

HOW CAN A MICE VISIT HELP BOOST THE ECONOMY IN A PLACE LIKE CAIRNS? Business events are a critical part of Australia’s visitor economy and play a key role in generating valuable tourism activity, trade, investment, and employment opportunities. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, international business event visitors spent on average 74 per cent1 more per night compared to leisure visitors. When Amway China held its month-long 2019 leadership seminar in Tropical North Queensland, the company brought more than 6,000 delegates to the region and was estimated to have injected $40 million into the region’s economy. 1

IVS FY2019

rds/graphics de delegates pic

Event here this year

The business events industry adds billions to the Australian economy and now, as we enter another year of COVID uncertainty, holding MICE events at home is more important than ever for those communities that depend on these dollars.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR ORGANISATIONS TO SCHEDULE EVENTS IN AUSTRALIA?

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES FOR A COMPANY TO EVENT IN AUSTRALIA?

The recovery of Australia’s business events industry will be led by Australian businesses and associations choosing to hold events in their own backyard. And what a backyard we have! Our destinations offer some of the most unique experiences in the world – it’s not every day you can snorkel the world’s largest coral reef system or explore one of the oldest rainforests – both of which are on the doorstep of Cairns. Combine this with a very experienced business events industry, that has a reputation for delivering extraordinary events that exceed expectations, and you have a winning combination for your next event.

Our industry has been delivering COVID-safe events throughout the pandemic, providing clients with flexibility so they can plan with confidence, ultimately minimising risk for businesses. Our international research tells us Australia offers so many opportunities for business events with our cities brimming with world-class hotels, venues and restaurants (and) our region’s home to luxury accommodation and unique experiences. With increasing rates of vaccination enabling restrictions to ease, businesses are looking for opportunities to bring teams back together and create meaningful connections.

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

WHY CHOOSE TNQ Australia boasts an abundance of magnificent places to meet, but Brian Crisp discovers it’s more than the famous rainforest and renowned reef that make Tropical North Queensland somewhere special to bring people together.

DISCOVER TNQ

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

CAIRNS Convention Centre general manager Janet Hamilton wants to let the world know that the Tropical North Queensland capital is open for business and ready to welcome delegates. And she says anyone booking a conference or event in Cairns will be helping to get the local tourism industry back on its feet after the darkest days of the COVID-19 crisis. Continued on page 14.

Cairns Convention Centre’s new facade

“Cairns has been hit by COVID-19 particularly hard,” Hamilton says. “With so many tourism businesses in the region there are a lot of people struggling, hosting events again in Cairns will start to give hope and an opportunity to look forward to the future when visitors come to our region in record numbers. "Events also add an element of excitement (and) it will be great to see the buzz around the city again." Hamilton says the flow-on effect from conferences is enormous, with business events having a considerable positive impact on the region. "Delegates come to the city and, in addition to attending the conference, spend money in hotels, cafes and on tours,” she says. "Many businesses and people in the region benefit from business events including taxi drivers, florists, produce suppliers and those working causal shifts at the Convention Centre. "Business events can also showcase Tropical North Queensland in other ways. They demonstrate the capability of the region and highlight our expertise in key industries, showcasing our incredible academic and industry talent." Hamilton notes that while some event planners may be cautious of undertaking overseas events, Cairns offers an enviable "local and safe" experience that rivals anything found internationally. "We know event planners are wanting to organise business events again but, with international bor-

der restrictions and lockdowns across the country, it has been a challenging time over the past two years," the former Darwin Convention Centre boss explains. "As we open up, and people start to meet again, Cairns is the perfect destination to host your conference. "Cairns has so much to offer event planners – you cannot go past our natural assets of the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics Rainforest that excite all delegates – and we have fantastic business events infrastructure. "And our refurbished Cairns Convention Centre has a fresh contemporary interior and new stateof-the-art technology. The expansion, opening in 2023, will offer event planners new spaces with stunning views. "(The city has) an amazing selection of hotels, unique off-site venues, international airport only 10 minutes from the CBD, and incredible pre-andpost touring options.” The Convention Centre boss says the Far North’s laid-back and no-fuss residents add to the appeal of hosting a MICE event in Cairns. "The people in Cairns are what makes our city specials, everyone is passionate about ensuring event organisers and delegates have an amazing time while here,” she says. "Nothing is too much trouble, and everything is done with a smile, it’s a welcoming hospitality only Cairns delivers."

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

Our Locations Fancy a memorable address for an off-site function? How about an historic wharf, cane field or banana plantation, palm-fringed beach, colonial courthouse, art gallery, or World War Two oil tank?

Our CSR

Our Airport Cairns Airport is 10 minutes from town and welcomes direct flights from around Australia including Newcastle, Canberra, Adelaide, and Perth which are post-pandemic additions to the schedule.

WHAT’S UNIQUE

In the Far North we encourage visitors to leave as custodians of this place and that’s best done by connecting with a program like Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, Rainforest Rescue, Habitat Heroes, the Reef Restoration Foundation, or Reforest.

Our Activities Tropical North Queensland is tops at team building. Take your delegates bungy jumping or white-water rafting, fossick bush tucker with a traditional custodian, embark on a croc-spotting cruise, plant trees to aid a conservation project, or hold a beachthemed Olympics on an island.

THE DRIVE TOexplore

Memories aren’t made in meeting rooms, so help your team discover Tropical North Queensland’s famous places and hidden gems during a leisurely road trip from Cairns. Sarah Nicholson shares the secrets to seeing three of the Far North’s top day-trip destinations.

Mossman Gorge

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

THE TABLELANDS MALANDA, Yungaburra, Millaa Millaa, Tarzali, Tolga, Atherton, Herberton and Ravenshoe may not be amongst Australia’s most famous towns but they would undoubtedly feature on any list of the country’s sweetest settlements. These vibrant villages – some blink-and-you-miss-it locations – are dotted through the Tablelands and offer foodies the chance to embark on tasting trails, historians to immerse in military moments, and walkers to wander lovely landscapes. Take your togs and savour a swim at Lake Eacham or Malanda Falls, try spotting the local platypus in the creek on the edge of Yungaburra, or pack ample water and sturdy shoes for the hike into spectacular Windin Falls. The Tablelands is a famous food bowl with local growers, many of them family businesses with generations still working the land, producing everything from coffee and macadamias to avocados and blueberries. Visit Nerada Tea to survey Australia’s largest tea plantation, sample chocolate and cheese at Gallo Dairyland, try the tropical ice-cream flavours at Mungalli Biodynamic Dairy, and pick berries at Shaylee Strawberry Farm. Plan on having brunch at Whistle Stop Café in Yungaburra – you can’t go past the halloumi stack – and when you go for coffee at The Spring Bean in Tolga add a couple of Marg’s Macaroons to your order. Those interested in military history should stroll the Afghanistan Avenue of Honour in Yungaburra, visit the Rocky Creek War Memorial Park built on the site of a sprawling World War Two camp, and the Tolga Museum’s exhibits recalling CAIRNS the region’s significant role in the Pacific War. MAREEBA

CAIRNS LAKE TINAROO

DIMBULA TOLGA ATHERTON

YUNGABURRA

MALANDA HERBERTON

TARZALI MILLAA MILLAA INNISFAIL

RAVENSHOE

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

CASSOWARY COAST THE landscape stretching south from Cairns is carpeted with banana plantations and cane fields, but there’s more than agriculture to the addresses around Innisfail. Pause for a morning soak in Babinda Boulders’ emerald-green waters, or ride the smooth rockslide at Josephine Falls, then call at Babinda Bakery to sample the famous cream buns. Stop in Innisfail to see the impressive Cassowary Coast Regional Council headquarters, occupying a grand art-deco hall built in the 1930s, before experiencing the gastro-pub dining at the neighbouring Queens Hotel or grabbing a true Italian coffee at Oliveri’s Continental Deli. Venture into Etty Bay and meet – from a safe distance, of course – the clan of cassowaries that live beside the sand before continuing south to Mission Beach and onto Cardwell Spa Pool which is another insta-worthy swimming spot. Tully shares the title of Australia’s wettest town with Babinda but the sleepy sugar settlement – you can’t miss the mill during “the crush” when creeping cane trains arrive around the clock to deliver the freshly-cut crop – has more to offer visitors than a selfie with a giant golden gumboot. Visit on market weekend, when stalls take over the main drag, or get the adrenalin pumping during a white-water adventure on the Tully River with this rafting experience considered one of the best in Australia. Another option is heading inland to Paronella Park to explore the bygone estate – featuring the “castle” surrounded by 5ha of cultivated gardens beside a waterfall – built by José Paronella for his wife in the 1930s.

MILLAA MILLAA

INNISFAIL

RAVENSHOE

MOUNT GARNET

MENA CREEK

INNOT HOT SPRINGS TULLY GORGE NATIONAL PARK

JAPOON NATIONAL PARK GUNNAWARRA KOOMBOOLOOMBA NATIONAL PARK

KURRIMINE BEACH MISSION BEACH

TULLY

GLEN RUTH MURRAY UPPER

CARRUCHAN CARDWELL

HINCHINBROOK ISLAND

ORMANTON

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

MOSSMAN A VISIT to Tropical North Queensland isn’t complete without a wander into the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, and a visit to Mossman Gorge is the easiest way to retreat into rainforest. Park at the Mossman Gorge visitor’s centre and ride one of the regular shuttle buses deep into the green before following the paved trails and elevated boardwalk, with these path flanking crystal-clear water as it bounces over rapids and swirls around rockpools. Lower River Track shadows the Mossman River, with the effortless 300m walk taking around 15 minutes to complete, while the longer Rainforest Circuit is a 2.4km track twisting through the rainforest to frame views of the surrounding peaks. Swimming isn’t recommended but it’s not unusual to see locals disappearing into the scrub on steamy days to cool down with a soak, sit on a boulder in the shade, or picnic beside a waterhole. The region is home to the Kuku Yalanji people, with the traditional owners striving to share the land’s unique qualities, so take a guided rainforest walk with an indigenous custodian to receive insights into this relationship with the earth. The village, which is home to 2000 people, is the heart of sugar country with the Mossman Central Mill humming through “the crush” from June to October. The battered cane trains still rattle along Mill Street – sit in the front bar at the historic Exchange Hotel during cane season to watch the carriages clatter through town – and it’s not uncommon to see a trash fire light up the night sky after a field is harvested.

MOSSMAN PORT DOUGLAS

DOUBLE ISLAND PALM COVE

GREEN ISLAND

KURANDA

MAREEBA

CAIRNS

FITZROY ISLAND

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

REASONS

TO VISIT CAIRNS

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

GET ON THE GBR

DREAMY DAINTREE DAY

WANDER TO A WATERFALL

GOING TO MARKET

SOUTH PACIFIC PERFECT

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns sits steps from Reef Fleet Terminal making it a cinch to explore the reef. Tourist boats depart daily with some making the dash to Fitzroy and Green islands, others heading for pontoons anchored above the coral, and a few drifting towards remote stretches of blue that are home to Nemo and his mates.

A trip to TNQ isn’t complete without seeing the place rainforest meets reef. It’s a 90-minute motor north from Cairns and tours collect guests in the morning before dropping them back at the hotel after a day of exploring. It’s the easiest way to experience bucket-list destinations like Mossman Gorge, Cape Tribulation and the Bloomfield Track.

The Far North is home to spectacular waterfalls with green-season showers bringing the wet stuff that makes these hidden gems rumble. Venture into the Atherton Tablelands – head up “The Gillies” for a spectacular journey before returning via Kuranda – with locations like Malanda Falls, Tchupala Falls and Millaa Millaa Falls perfect for a summertime soak.

Weekend markets are a way of life with communities from Palm Cove and Port Douglas to Tully and Tolga playing host. Remember to take a hat and arrive ready to eat as food is a highlight. And, if you can’t make it to the regions, Rusty’s Market and the Night Markets are within walking distance of the hotel while Kuranda is just a jaunt up the range.

Keen to see the islands but already crossed Fitzroy and Green from your to-do list? Then it’s time to book a Frankland Islands tour and see one of Tropical North Queensland’s true hidden gems. The excursion includes a cruise along the South Johnstone River to the Coral Sea and time to explore the empty islands from above and below the surface.

IT stretches 2,300km along the 22 Queensland coast, reaching from the Torres Strait to the unnamed passage separating Lady Elliott and Fraser islands. It covers 344,400sq/km which is roughly the same area as Japan, Italy or Germany. It is easiest to reach the reef from Cairns, Port Douglas, Mission Beach and Cape Tribulation. It is made up of 3000 coral reefs, 600 continental islands, 133 varieties of sharks and rays, 1625 types of fish, and 600 coral species. Around 80 per cent of all tourism activity occurs inside just 7 per cent of the reef region.

GBR facts

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

Masters of the Reef Keen for your delegates to discover more of the Great Barrier Reef? Then you need a Master Reef Guide.

WE all know those famous reef stats. It makes up 10 per cent of the world’s coral reef ecosystem, extends across 14 degrees of latitude, sets a global benchmark for the management of protected marine areas, and is sea country for the first Australians with more than 70 traditional owner groups. But the Tropical North Queensland icon still has secrets, and just one is the band of Master Reef Guides ready to help those set on exploring sustainably to discover life below the sparkling Coral Sea surface. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators combine to present the program with these educated eco-ambassadors described as “guides, interpreters and storytellers sharing the wonders” of this World Heritage Site. “These world-leading storytellers will enhance visitor experiences along the reef by providing in-depth information about the marine environment and its management,” the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Fred Nucifora says. “They’ll get visitors involved in citizen science, which is a unique and valuable way anyone visiting the reef can contribute information and inform reef management.” DISOVER MASTERS OF THE REEF

The Cairns region boasts 26 Master Reef Guides with the team working at Fitzroy, Green and Frankland islands as well as on board the fleet of vessels that venture to the deep blue daily from Marlin Marina. To learn more, please visit www.gbrmpa.gov.au/our-partners/master-reef-guides

YOUR SHANGRI-LA moment

DISOVER YOUR SHANGRi-LA

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

Our Food The hotel’s Executive Chef Aaron Habgood and Executive Sous Chef Simon Capewell are at the top of their game, creating menus that use the best and freshest local ingredients to celebrate the fabulous flavours of the tropical Far North.

Our Facilities

Our Location Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns sits beside Marlin Marina – between the Coral Sea and city centre – with guest spaces on the sunrise side enjoying a view across Trinity Inlet.

WHAT’S UNIQUE

Our swimming pool sits in the heart of the hotel’s private courtyard surrounded by lush tropical gardens, The Backyard is famous for casual waterside dining, and the Horizon Club Lounge is a sanctuary of calm.

Our People The hotel team comes from around the world – some were born and raised in Cairns, while others now call Tropical North Queensland home after arriving from faraway lands – but we have one thing in common, and that’s the instinct to deliver signature Shangri-La service.

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

Plan to succeed Sarah Nicholson discovers it’s planning and teamwork that puts a five-star touch on every event staged at Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns. HAVE you ever seen a 125sqm function room set In reality that minute of action took only a couple four ways in a single minute? of hours to complete with the hotel’s events team – guided by Food & Beverage Manager Rachel No? Then snap the QR code at the bottom of the Renton, Conference & Events Manager Monyna opposite page to see our versatile Lagoon Room Giner-Tan, and Banquets Manager Swapnil Desai flipped from a board room to u-shape meeting, – expert at arranging and re-arranging areas. then from cabaret conference to a gala-dinner setup in just 60 seconds. And, while this is all in a day’s work for the experienced banquets crew at Shangri-La The Marina, So, we cheated a tad by asking Tropical North Cairns, we don’t rest on our laurels as extensive Queensland videographer Glenn Saggers to pro- planning and preparation goes into every date duce a timelapse clip showing our flipping skills. booked at our 18 inside and outdoor venues.

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

“The harder you work, the luckier you get, so we cloths and placing centrepieces – because it’s the focus on the details,” Giner-Tan says. thoughtful five-star touches that make a meeting as memorable as our location. “And this happens during every step of the planning process. From conversing with a client to “That’s not just leading up to delegates arriving understand precisely how they want a function and during a day-long meeting we move through to work, through our weekly internal meetings during breaks to refresh the room and ensure it that take a fine-toothed comb to the briefing looks as good after a few hours as it did first thing documents, and the significant behind-the- in the morning,” she says. scenes preparations we put in place on the day. “Our venues are adaptable, making it easy to ac“Of course, we would never need to flip a room commodate any event, from a board meeting for four times in a day, but it is not a problem if it just a few VIPs to an exhibition with hundreds of needs to happen twice or three times to achieve people passing through. what an organiser has in mind. “And having an experienced team at your service Giner-Tan says readying a room is about more here at Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns means we than just arranging furniture with the team fo- can make almost anything happen and we love cusing on the finer details – like pressing table- working with organisers who dream big.”

DISCOVER THE LAGOON ROOM

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

Lagoon Room The green trees of Fogarty Park and city skyline fill the Lagoon Room’s wide windows, with this 125sq/m space sitting at the top of the Event Centre’s main staircase.

Trinity Room

The Backyard Looking to do more than work the next time you meet? The Backyard is just the place with the waterside restaurant perfect for a fine-dining experience, the garden set for a casual barbecue, the deck ideal for an impressive king’s table, and the bar sensational for sunset cocktails.

This 234sq/m space – that can be divided into two smaller 117sq/m rooms – is always a favourite because it’s positioned to look across Cairns Esplanade parklands. The room offers easy access to the Trinity Balcony, which faces the sunset making it perfect for a late afternoon function.

Ballroom Every grand event deserves to be staged in Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns’ elegant Ballroom which, at 300sq/m with a 120sq/m pre-function space, can easily accommodate big groups ready to celebrate, congregate or conference.

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

Marlin Room This 247sq/m room occupies a quiet corner at the eastern edge of the Event Centre and boasts a view across the Coral Sea towards the Northern Beaches. The space can also be sectioned into three smaller venues ranging from 54sq/m to 111sq/m.

Poolside Forest Gardens A secluded corner of the hotel’s lush tropical gardens, which our staff horticulturist Chris Young carefully curates, provide a peaceful place for an outdoor event amongst the year-round greenery.

VENUE WRAP

Marina Room The Marina Room sits inside the hotel’s southern façade with windows framing a vista across Trinity Inlet . This adaptable 120sq/m venue can also be broken into three smaller spaces – at 30sq/m or 40sq/m – to accommodate any occasion.

Celebrate the best of Tropical North Queensland in a sprawling outdoor space that sits under weatherproof shade sails to make it a pleasant year-round location. The 320sq/m area can accommodate 300 guests at round tables with extra space for a stage.

DISCOVER OUR EVENT CENTRE

TEN steps. That’s the shortest walk a delegate will have from their Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns hotel room to the Event Centre. Monyna Giner-Tan, Director of Business Development – Conventions and Incentives, says the proximity of rooms to the hotel’s conferencing facilities helps set a relaxing tone for those attending events at the waterside Cairns address. “Being so close gives delegates back more time,’’ he explains standing at the entrance to one of the hotel’s contemporary Deluxe Sea View Rooms. “They do not have to walk for 10 minutes outside if they need to go back to their room because they have forgotten something. “Every room has undercover and air-conditioned access to our considerable conference facilities.” The five-star hotel boasts 18 function spaces, that can be set to host everything from small meetings attended by just a few to significant conferences claiming a guest list of up to 255 people, with nine of these adaptable sites just in the Event Centre which can be booked for exclusive use.

The hotel’s MICE space features two entrances including one that’s separate from the hotel, on the Esplanade side of the building and another that descends from the guest floors and pool area. The quiet and versatile space boasts three function venues – Trinity Room, Marlin Room, Lagoon Room – that can be divided into smaller sections for more intimate occasions, a balcony that sits beside Trinity Bay to savour Coral Sea views, and a calm pre-function area. “We hosted an event in October for four people in our Boardroom,’’ Mon says. “At the other end of the scale, Amway China booked the entire hotel for six weeks when they had their conference in Cairns a few years ago. “Reserving our dedicated Events Centre keeps everything in one area, and with so many flexible spaces just in that part of the hotel we can meet the needs of most clients. “Our event spaces are private which is very important if you are launching new products or need to discuss sensitive subjects.’’

Work this way

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns couldn’t make it any easier with everything needed to meet – hotel room, event space, restaurant, swimming pool – all under one roof.

Mon notes bookings for events and conferences in 2022 are looking strong and he already has four international events in the diary for 2023.

While Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns’ Event Centre is a standout in the Far North capital it’s not the property’s only unique feature.

While face-to-face events are coming back to Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns the five-star hotel continues delivering dynamic hybrid meetings.

Apart from the elegant Ballroom, with its grand soaring ceilings and sophisticated styling, each indoor eventing space is flooded with natural light and promises impressive views while outdoor facilities are immersed in the hotel’s lush tropical gardens.

“We have IT capability to deliver hybrid meetings so people who can’t travel can still join the conference,’’ the Edinburgh native says. “If you attend online, the only thing you will miss is the amazing food that comes from our kitchens.’’ But event organisers are choosing Cairns because it offers so much more than conference facilities.

“Our events and meeting spaces are certainly not windowless rooms. Vast floor-to-ceiling windows let an abundance of natural light in to keep conference attendees invigorated, wide awake, and eager to engage,’’ Mon says.

“I think one of our recent clients summed it up best when they said having a conference in Cairns feels like work, but without feeling like you are at work,’’ Mon says.

“Conference attendees also see Cairns as a tourist destination so it’s not uncommon for our guests to extend their bookings beyond the conference and invite family and friends to join them for a short break in Tropical North Queensland.

“You are in the tropics and during winter it’s 27C outside and you’re having your evening cocktail party under a palm tree. People enjoy having the freedom to relax, even when they are at work.’’

“Cairns – with the Great Barrier Reef, Wet Tropics, Tablelands, and Coral Sea islands – offer so many post-conference activities, why wouldn’t you stay a little longer?’’

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

Executive Marina View Room Our Executive Marina View Rooms feature either a king or two queen beds and occupy the eastern side of the hotel’s first and second levels looking across the fleet moored in Marlin Marina to the magnificent mountains on the far side of Trinity Inlet.

Deluxe Seaview Room

Deluxe Room The hotel’s 98 Deluxe Rooms feature a king or twin queen beds positioned across two levels to take in city, mountain, swimming pool or garden views from each private balcony or veranda.

ROOM WRAP

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns offers 51 Deluxe Sea View Rooms to guests that want to gaze across the blue. These rooms have a king or twin queen beds, are positioned beside the Coral Sea, and take in the fiery colours of the Far North sunset.

Horizon Club Room Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts are famous for their Horizon Club Rooms. Our 32 Horizon Club Rooms boast Marlin Marina or Trinity Bay views, a functional deck, comfortable sitting area, and indulgent bathroom.

FAR NORTH FLAVOUR flair

Brian Crisp discovers why Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns Executive Chef Aaron Habgood found his “own true style” after moving to Tropical North Queensland.

34 TAKE a few minutes to explore Aaron Habgood’s Instagram account and you will see just how good Cairns-created food looks on a plate.

Habgood says he is always up for a challenge when creating menus for events and conferences.

Habgood is the Executive Chef at Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns and his social media is testament to the culinary colours and vibrancy on offer in Tropical North Queensland.

“I know I get overly excited when clients say, ‘wow me’,” he grins.

During his career Habgood has cooked for Prince Charles, John Howard and countless celebrities but believes he has found his niche by bringing the unique tastes, flavours and smells of perfect Cairns produce to the plate. “Far North Queensland would have to be one of the most exciting places in Australia when it comes to its people, its food, its colours and its smells,’’ he says. “I love working with seafood and meats and complimenting them with the sweet and sour flavours of the tropics, there’s nothing quite like barbecuing and smoking with Tablelands ironbark timbers.” Most visitors to Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns will savour Habgood’s cooking in The Backyard which is the hotel’s waterside restaurant. “Our menus are inspired by our region,’’ he says. “The dishes are fresh, vibrant and flavoursome and reflect where we live. Would they work elsewhere? Maybe. But you would be taking away that essence and feeling of FNQ. “There is something unique about sinking your teeth into a mud crab you just caught down the road, especially if it’s served with homemade chilli jam sweetened by local coconuts. “People still care about where their food comes from, and that’s a good thing. It lets chefs, like me, tell stories through cooking. “The suppliers we use buy and support local growers and producers first. Living in such a dynamic and almost isolated place like Far North Queensland, we are almost self-sufficient up here which is great for chefs. And customers.’’

“Chefs in Cairns are probably some of the most versatile in the country, and we are inspired by the very region itself. “We have the freshest fish market in the world with the Great Barrier Reef right on our doorstep, and we have the healthiest volcanic redsoil farms in the Tablelands producing so many types of fruit and veg, and some glorious pastured cattle. “We produce our own chocolate and some great coffee and tea, who wouldn’t want to be a chef here.” Habgood started his cooking career at the Landmark Park Royal in Potts Point and worked at hotels around Sydney before following in the footsteps of so many young Aussies and making the big move to the United Kingdom. He worked at the Berkley Hotel in Knightsbridge and Relais & Chateaux in Dorset before joining the team at Sienna’s in Dorchester, with that address collecting its first Michelin star while he was serving as sous chef. Habgood, who is now the father of two outdoor-loving kids, moved back to Australia in 2008 and first worked as Sous Chef at Shangri-La Sydney before migrating to the top corner of Queensland in 2013. “Having lived in Cairns now for almost 10 years, I have fully embraced the region and its landscape,’’ he says. “I would like to think my attention to detail still remains strong from those Michelin restaurant days in England, but I’m having a lot more fun doing it now than I ever have. “I put that down to living in the most exciting place on the earth.’’

DISCOVER FAR NORTH FLAVOURS

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

Memorable menus Sarah Nicholson discovers that planning a menu for a special MICE moment is about thinking local. And dreaming big.

SHANGRI-LA The Marina, Cairns Executive Sous Chef Simon Capewell has a simple message for event organisers planning a menu. “There should always be a ‘wow’ factor – smoke from a jar of potato salad, watermelon made to look like sashimi, gold leaf on a lobster taco – because you want to give people a talking point,” he said. “The menu should grab your delegates’ attention when they read it, and there should be a dish they are talking about when they leave and then describe to friends when they get home.” Capewell, who worked in hotel kitchens around the world before moving to Australia in 2004, says paddock-to-plate eating is still significant but has evolved past the simple tracking of how far ingredients travelled before being served.

“Sustainability is essential and people now want to know where their ingredients come from, the story about how they were grown, like understanding an animal wasn’t stressed when it was slaughtered or the story behind the family that owns the farm. “We can plan an event where the chef will come out before each course to talk about the ingredients, how the food was prepared, and the ideas behind the menu. “Or we can take that a step further and jump in a van together for a little road trip, head up to the Tablelands to pick limes in a family-owned orchard before visiting the fishmonger to select the fish for a special ceviche. “When it comes to designing a menu for a special occasion, the sky is the limit these days.”

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

SUSTAINABLE travel is shaping up to be the top tourism trend of 2022. The COVID-19 reboot is prompting travellers to invest in clean, green, reliable and respectful experiences.

DISOVER SUSTAINABILITY

The Sustainable Travel Report 2021 says 73 per cent of travellers are likely to select accommodation that’s implementing responsible practices with Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts Director of Distribution & Leisure Gavin Maloney energised by the shift in consumer attitude. "Our company is a member of both the Hang Seng Sustainability Index and Dow Jones Sustainability Indices," Maloney says. "At Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns eco-sensitive initiatives are vital because we're on two significant UNESCO World Heritage sites – The Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics of Queensland – so it's fundamental to consider environmental and community impact. "We're not about making flashy statements, our efforts are made behind the scenes with a consistent approach the past decade focusing on proven initiatives." Maloney says Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns focused on elevating sustainable habits in 2019 by replacing plastic rooms keys with timber cards and positioning bins around the four kitchens to separate food scraps. "We monitor plastic use to reduce overall consumption, have been recycling cooking oil since 2016 and the hotel uses LED globes," he explains. "It’s vital to do the right thing, and to do it with purpose so our green initiatives align with a sense of community and link to our brand pillars."

Seeking sustainability Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns strives to build a brighter future for the Far North community it calls home.

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

Why we care Shangri-La Cares reinforces our commitment to looking after everyone checking in during the COVID-19 crisis.

DISCOVER SHANGRI-LA CARES

A SIMPLE promise has long defined the service offered at Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, and that’s to treat a stranger as one of our own. But when the pandemic struck we set about raising the bar to introduce a COVID-safe plan that guaranteed the wellbeing of every guest and all staff members. “To meet new challenges and evolving customer expectations we are focusing on enhanced hygiene protocols and elevating our standards,” Shangri-La Group Chief Executive Officer Lim Beng Chee says. “We would like to convey our heartfelt care by creating a safe environment where everyone feels comfortable and trusts in our ability to ensure their safety and health so they can focus on the moments that truly matter.” Shangri-La Cares has been rolled out across ev-

ery one of the group’s more than 100 hotels and resorts with the innovative program following World Health Organisation and local government regulations to create a trusted environment for those lingering under our roof. We are not only implementing improved protocols and procedures, by adopting measures that combat the risk of COVID-19 contamination so guests can feel safe, but empowering our team by developing training that focuses on additional preparatory and prevention measures. This progress hasn’t paused during the past two years, and we are constantly refining our pandemic contingencies to fit the evolving regulations of this “new normal”. And we will continue perfecting our Shangri-La Cares promise to offer the very best attention and service to everyone that stays with us during the pandemic.

MAKE MEETING MORE THAN WORK at The Backyard

VISIT THE BACKYARD WEBSITE

Pierpoint Road, Cairns, Queensland, 4870 07 4052 7500 - events.slmc@shangri-la.com - www.shangri-a.com/cairns