VO LU M E 2 E S CA PE T H E O R D I N A RY
event
BY S H A N G R I - L A
VIRTUAL TOUR
Welcome to 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 7636 | events.slmc@shangri-la.com
Discover
6
Meet The Team
9
What’s New
10
Sustainability is Here to Stay
17
Mesmerising Mossman Gorge
21
Tour de Tablelands
23
Freshwater Swimming
25
Rent-a-Resort
27
Isolation to Inspiration
29
The Royal Treatment
31
On Trend for Versatility
35
Technology Leads the Way
38
Living Localisation
CONTRIBUTORS Crystal Lay, Sarah Nicholson, Lisa Perkovic, Catherine Coombs, Jace Films, Somethings Wild, Toby Stanley, Threadless Films, 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 more information on the new state-of-the-art double decker floating platform, the Reef Magic Pontoon located in Cairns.
Read the latest edition of austRalia next now
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
6
Meet the Team AT SHANGRI-LA THE MARINA, CAIRNS
Monyna Giner-Tan
Lucy Davies
General Manager
Director of Business Development
Sales Executive
Aaron Habgood
Rachel Renton
Karn Kapur
Executive Chef
Food & Beverage Manager
Director of Rooms
Ross Miles-Cadman
THERE'S no doubt about it, Australia is getting back to business with organisations of all shapes and sizes snagging spaces and dates to bring people together after two years of working online. And while we’re still getting used to what the “new normal” looks like – without closed borders, lockdowns, capacity limits and mask mandates – we do know lead times are shorter, flexibility is fundamental, and sustainability is sacrosanct. In this second edition of Event by Shangri-La we’ve focused on bringing
Melanie DeCourcy Director of Sales
some of the industry’s post-pandemic trends together – think bleisure travel, hotel buyouts, and barbecues in The Backyard – so Australia’s business events community can continue to Event Here This Year as we navigate the road to domestic recovery.
7
Back to Business Australia’s business events industry is still focused upon staging dates at home, rather than asking delegates to embark on trips that require packing a passport.
AUSTRALIA’S business events industry is back after Delta and Omicron decimated 2021. Venues across the country are filling fast, with lead times winding right back to just a few weeks for some, and confidence is growing that the time is right to start straying a little further from home by crossing state borders. Business Events Australia’s Domestic Corporate Sentiment Research – February 2022 backs that up, with the numbers highlighting most organisations forced to postpone an event during the last three months of 2021 already rebooking for 2022. And, most encouragingly, one in four of the 80 per cent of groups that paused during last year’s fourth quarter now have dates in the diary to execute before the calendar clicks into quarter four this year. The data also shows that while there’s a strong desire to resume face-to-face events, many organisations will continue offering virtual and hybrid occasions. The Business Events Australia data says 55 per cent of respondents are planning on gathering all their delegates in one place, with 30 per cent
remaining in the virtual sphere and 15 per cent preparing a hybrid format after refining the meeting style during the past two years. Robin Mack, Tourism Australia’s Executive General Manager Commercial & Business Events Australia, says it’s important to note that while organisations have adapted to working online that format does not offer the same experience as face-to-face events. “From innovative ideas that come out of networking opportunities with colleagues at a conference, to aligning your team and increasing your bottom line through an incentive program, the power that in-person events have simply can’t be replicated at a virtual event,” he says. “During the pandemic, a large portion of employees spent a significant period working remotely and, coupled with the general business challenges of adapting in a global pandemic, we know many businesses are looking to re-energise their organisational culture as restrictions ease. “Our research confirms this, highlighting decision-makers seem to be increasingly focused on building team morale and rewarding their staff through future events.”
YOUR TNQ moment
Mason’s Swimming Hole
9
TAPROOM TIME Atherton’s Billycart Brewing Co – the independent and locally-owned brewery – serves its signature craft beers in a new taproom on the edge of the Tablelands’ town and invites food vans to visit on Friday nights and across the weekend.
MAGIC ON THE REEF Reef Magic Cairns has unveiled its new eco-friendly pontoon at Moore Reef. The platform is perfect for exploring the Great Barrier Reef from above and below the surface and home to a scientific laboratory that supports marine research and sustainability projects. READ MORE - PAGE 12
ISLAND TIME Strait Experience has added Australia’s most unique one-day tour showing travellers two islands crowning Tropical North Queensland. Guests travel on a private
WHAT’S NEW IN TNQ
Skytrans Airlines charter from Cairns to Horn Island before crossing to Thursday Island by ferry for a “local feasting-style lunch”. An experienced Torres Strait Islander guide hosts this chance to see a remote part of Australia.
BREWS NEWS
SILKY STAY The Daintree’s Silky Oaks Lodge has reopened after a $20 million renovation. The property, set beside Mossman River deep in the world’s oldest rainforest, promises a sustainable stay.
Sustainability is Here to Stay Sarah Nicholson discovers that roaming responsibly, and investing in sustainable travel, is becoming a top priority in Tropical North Queensland.
THE days when travel was about collecting stamps in a passport and posing for selfies to post on social media are long gone. Today’s savvy travellers, looking to set out again after a roaming pause prompted by the pandemic, are prioritising sustainability by demanding experiences that leave them with understanding and positively impact the places they visit. It’s about spending time wisely, walking softly, supporting grass-roots businesses so money filters through the community, considering carbon footprint, and not spoiling a destination for those that follow. And pristine places around the planet have used the hiatus delivered by COVID-19 contingencies to reboot and refocus on responsible tourism. In Tropical North Queensland – a destination that boasts an enviable inventory of eco-friendly experiences – sustainable tourism has become fundamental for both leisure and business visitors. TTNQ CEO Mark Olsen explains the region’s “organisations and operators are continually evolving in the sustainability space”. “Regenerative travel had long been an integral part of the tourism offering in Tropical North Queensland but, as the world shifts its focus towards making more sustainable choices, these efforts will be even more significant to the region,” he says. “Tropical North Queensland tour operators have led the way, not just with eco-certification, but with initiatives such as the Coral Nurture Program and reforesting wildlife corridors alongside the Wet Tropics rainforest. “Port Douglas and Daintree, where the world’s oldest rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef, was the first destination to achieve Ecotourism Australia’s Eco Destination Certification in 2019. Despite 80 per cent of its land protected under World Heritage listing, 80 per cent of its economic activity is tourism.”
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SHANGRI-LA SUSTAINABILITY
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TNQ Sustainability TROPICAL North Queensland boasts enough eco-certified experiences to keep even the most responsible traveller satisfied and occupied. But that should come as no surprise, with operators working across all compass points – from the Great Barrier Reef to Gulf Country and Cardwell to the Cape – striving to curate encounters that protect the pristine parcel of property crowning Australia’s east coast. Here are just a few eco-conscious activities that are sure to make magical travel memories while nurturing the environment.
SEE REAL SCIENCE AT WORK ON THE REEF The new Reef Magic pontoon, floating above Moore Reef, features three wind turbines and 18 solar panels beside a laboratory accommodating scientists working on reef research and conservation projects.
WALK THE UNDARA EXPERIENCE LAVA TUBES The destination home to the world’s largest lava
tubes
has
employed
sustainable
practices since welcoming the first visitors in 1990 and opened after building a roof over Undara Central to capture rainwater.
REEF RESTORATION WITH PASSIONS OF PARADISE “Sustainability is not a buzzword, it’s a way of life” for the team at Passions of Paradise. The company supports the Coral Nurture Program and has been helping regenerate the reef since 2019 with one project installing frames at Hastings Reef to nurture coral growth.
ISLAND TIME WITH INDIGENOUS GUIDES Explore
Wunyami/Green
Indigenous
guides
Island
from
with
Wunyami
Cultural Walking Tours to discover the culture and ceremonies of the tribes that called the Coral Sea cay home.
CRUISE THE COBBOLD GORGE CANYONS Cobbold – which is home to sandstone cliffs that rise 10m from the still sapphire water – is Queensland’s youngest gorge, and visitors can only explore on guided tours hosted by accredited Savannah guides.
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1
5
Reasons to Visit Cairns
FRESHWATER SWIMMING IS SAFE
Snapping and stinging critters rule some Tropical North Queensland swimming spots, but there’s still numerous freshwater places perfect for a safe soak. There are dozens of waterfalls and crater lakes dotted around the Tablelands – Lake Eacham is a favourite with locals – while Crystal Cascades is closer to Cairns.
2
LOCAL SPIRITS ARE HIGH Gin lovers, you’re in luck, small-batch distilling has sky-rocketed
around Cairns. Try Narrow Tracks Distillery in Stratford, local favourite Wolf Lane Distillery in the heart of Cairns, Distil on the Hill up in Kuranda, and Walkamin’s Mount Uncle Distillery.
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BUT FIRST, THERE’S COFFEE
The word is out, Cairns does coffee. Blackbird Laneway has a trendy vibe, The Chamber Room Espresso & Brew Bar is for serious sipping, and Bang & Grind kicks off at 6am for early birds. Bean hunters can also hit the road with the Tablelands home to small-batch plantations and artisan producers like Coffee Works and Skybury Café & Roastery.
4
FLOAT THERAPY IS WHERE IT’S AT
Forget dark immersion pods or float tanks. You won’t have a care when you’re floating down the Jinkalmu River near Mossman. Back Country Bliss runs tours where visitors float along one of the clearest rivers in water surrounded by World Heritage rainforests.
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MORE THAN THE DAINTREE The Daintree is part of the world’s oldest continually surviving
rainforest, and is only a small corner of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics of Queensland. The entire rainforest covers 9000sq/km – about the same size as Cyprus, to provide some scale – and features 30 national parks sitting in five unique precincts.
LEARN MORE
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Mesmerising Mossman Gorge Lisa Perkovic spends an afternoon wandering the lush Mossman Gorge rainforest and departs with the sounds of the Wet Tropics as the most prominent memory.
IT'S the Mossman Gorge soundtrack that stays with me long after I leave. Not a CD from the Mossman Gorge Centre – though there were plenty of souvenirs there I wanted to take home – or a playlist to download. It’s simply full-body immersion. The
Gorge
is
a
world-famous
whistle-stop
location
for
experiencing the Wet Tropics of Queensland. But it should be so much more than another item on a packed itinerary. During the quick shuttle bus ride from the visitor centre we’re cast into twilight as the rainforest canopy filters out the bright Queensland sun. Bird calls bounce and echo through the trees, insects buzz a low and languid hum, and the whisper of running water builds to a cacophony as the Mossman Gorge lookout comes into view. We watch the eddying pools, hypnotised by the swirling water, before carrying on to cross the Rex Creek suspension bridge and delve deeper into the trees on the 2.4km Rainforest Circuit Track. The trail climbs gently for a glimpse of Manjal Dimbi before winding back down to the banks of Wurrumbu Creek. Locals claim this as the rainforest’s “beach”, and the sandy pool tempts us on this tropical day, but we continue and soon loop back to the boardwalk that merges with the shorter River Circuit Track. With both circuits under our belts, we board the bus dreaming of ice-cold drinks and damper awaiting us at the visitor centre and share the ride with one of the local Indigenous guides. Our quick chat gives us a glimpse into the Kuku Yalanji people and their connection to this special place, sampling what those joining the Ngadiku Dreamtime Walks will experience.
Rainforest Rendezvous TROPICAL
North
Queensland’s
vast
carpet of green is, according to Sir David Attenborough, “quite unlike any other rainforest in the world”. But you don’t need to be a world-famous naturalist to explore a jungle that’s survived millions of years, with three easy options
MAMU TROPICAL SKYWALK Wander hover you
through
over stroll
the
the Misty
elevated
clouds
that
Mountains
walkways
for discovering the World Heritage-listed landscape that’s home to more fascinating flora and fauna than can be counted.
as
above
the Wooroonooran National Park canopy. A 90-minute drive from the hotel via the Bruce and Palmerston highways
MOSSMAN GORGE There are several routes for self-guided strolling, from an easy 300m riparian loop following paved footpaths to the longer 2.4km rainforest hike along dirt tracks. Those looking to learn from one of the rainforest's
SKYRAIL RAINFOREST CABLEWAY
traditional custodians can join an Indigenous
Glide above the rainforest – while savouring
follow private trails to "special places and
views across the Northern Beaches to the Coral Sea – aboard one of the green gondolas that climb to Kuranda. A 20-minute drive from the hotel via the Cook Highway
guide on the Ngadiku Dreamtime Walks and culturally significant sites". An 80-minute drive from the hotel via the Cook Highway
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Getting into the Green THE Daintree is one of Australia’s most famous places, a pristine patch celebrated as the world’s oldest rainforest. But did you know the Daintree is only one corner of the continent’s largest continuous rainforest? With this protected parcel of tropical green stretching 250km along the Far North Queensland coast from the Paluma Range National Park near Townsville to Cooktown 100km north of Cape Tribulation. Here are a few more things you might not know about the rainforest that crowns this corner of the country. The Wet Tropics of Queensland was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 1988 and earned a place because “this biotope offers a particularly extensive array of plants, as well as marsupials and songbirds, along with other rare and endangered animals and plant species”. The jungle supports 700 plant species not found anywhere else in the world and 60 per cent of Australia’s butterfly species. The Far North’s rainforests were once home to 20 different Aboriginal tribal groups, and native title now accounts for 90 per cent of the landscape inside the World Heritage zone. Bellenden Ker – a majestic summit between Cairns and Innisfail that’s carpeted in hues of khaki – is not only Queensland’s second-highest mountain, but Australia’s wettest place receiving an average 814cm of rain annually.
CURTAIN FIG TREE Curtain Fig National Park is home to the majestic Curtain Fig Tree, a towering 500-year-old strangler fig supported by a tangle of branches dangling towards the ground.
LAKE EACHAM Follow the circuit track around Lake Eacham, with the Wet Tropics rainforest on one side of the path and the crater lake’s emerald water on the other, with steps beside the car park marking the best place to swim.
AFGHANISTAN AVENUE OF HONOUR Lake Tinaroo is home to Australia’s memorial to the Australian Defence Force members that fought and died during our country’s operations in Afghanistan.
WATERFALL CIRCUIT It’s a cinch to soak up the sights at the Tablelands’ many scenic waterfalls – and perhaps enjoy a refreshing float, waterside picnic and a few mist-filled rainbows – on an easy day-trip excursion around the region.
SHAYLEE STRAWBERRIES Pick your own strawberries at this family farm between Atherton and Yungaburra before retiring to the café to sample homemade sweets, desserts and ice cream beside gourmet toasties and artisan coffee.
LEARN MORE
Tour de Tablelands THE Atherton Tablelands is a hidden gem in a region famous for star attractions like the Wet Tropics of Queensland rainforest and Great Barrier Reef. The region “up the hill” from Cairns rises 700m above sea level, with this lofty elevation promising the temperature will always be a few degrees cooler than on the coast, and landscapes seamlessly switch from fertile farmland to parched outback while following the sun across the sky from east to west.
Freshwater Swimming Six places for freshwater swimming, soaking and floating in Far North Queensland
BABINDA BOULDERS
CARDWELL SPA POOL
This swimming spot, which is in the shadows of
Abundant levels of magnesium and calcium in the
Mt Bartle Frere, never fails to impress. Avoid the
water turn the Cardwell Spa Pool various shades
Devil’s Pool and stick to the still waterholes to
of blue – from vibrant cobalt to milky turquoise,
submerge beside locals cooling down beneath a
depending on the sunshine – to make this location
rainforest canopy of green.
a serious Instagram star.
JOSEPHINE FALLS
MALANDA FALLS
A natural rock waterslide has made this spot a Far
This natural Tablelands pool is only steps from
North favourite. Josephine Creek starts high up
the car park, making it suitable for travellers with
in nearby Mt Bartle Frere – Queensland’s highest
little legs that don’t want to walk far, and there’s
summit – and winds through Wooroonooran
always the chance to see the elusive Lumholtz’s
National Park near Mirriwinni.
tree-kangaroo while floating below the falls.
NANDROYA FALLS
BEHANA GORGE
Those wanting to soak in the pool below one of
This waterhole at the base of the Far North’s
Tropical North Queensland’s most wondrous
famous mountainous Pyramid is one of the
waterfalls will need to pack their hiking boots,
district’s prettiest, with the rumbling water
with the track from the Henrietta Creek camping
flowing through a narrow rocky canyon that’s
ground not suitable for less-than-serious footwear.
almost hidden inside a tunnel of trees.
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Rent-a-Resort The hotel buyout is no longer the exclusive domain of movie stars, with Sarah Nicholson explaining it’s on trend for business events in the planning. ANGELINA Jolie is famous for reserving every room
– and buyouts are a solid opportunity to build brand
in a hotel for her entourage to occupy, and indulged
with the client able to display their logo everywhere.
in her most renowned buyout back in 2011. “I recently had a client ask if they could drain the On that occasion she took over a Siem Reap resort
swimming pool, put their company decal on the
– a handsome address once in the inventory of King
bottom, then refill it. I thought that was a great idea
Sihanouk’s many holiday homes – to guarantee
and we were keen to do that.
privacy away from the prying eyes of paparazzi. “The other advantage is the number of event staff is But the hotel buyout isn’t limited to the rich and
augmented by the hotel team because, with no other
famous, with organisations embarking on business
guests in the hotel, we can give all their attention to
events in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis moving to
the needs of the delegates and ensure the event is
occupy an address and guarantee a sense of privacy
successful.”
for delegates. Monyna says the buyout also enhances privacy with Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns Director of Business
those attending able to discuss sensitive subjects, do
Management – Conventions & Incentives Monyna
deals, talk finances and unveil products without the
Giner-Tan says while the move was an option before
risk of being overheard.
the pandemic, queries are becoming increasingly common.
“It’s not something that can be done last minute, especially in this post-pandemic period that is
“There’s no doubt we’re getting more inquiries, and
seeing demand from business and leisure travellers
that’s because our clients are looking to take steps to
to continue eventing and holidaying at home this
ensure the health and safety of delegates travelling
year and beyond,” she says.
again after two years of working remotely,” she says. “The hotel needs the lead times to guarantee every “The buyout means that, for the duration of the
room will be available but, with 255 guest rooms and
booking, the hotel is closed to anyone that’s not a
suites under the same roof as 19 function spaces, this
group member with the client able to control what’s
is the perfect property for a buyout because it’s not
happening onsite.
too big and it’s not too small.
“It also delivers that unique feeling of exclusivity – it’s
“Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns is in the Goldilocks
not everyday delegates can be part of a private party
Zone of hotel buyouts.”
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DISCOVER OUR EVENT CENTRE
Isolation to Inspiration We can thank the pandemic for dropping WFH into the vernacular. But Lisa Perkovic discovers that “work from home” could also mean “work from here”. And here can be a hotel.
BACK at the start of the pandemic,
Shangri-La
we all thought the work-from-home
Director of Rooms Karn Kapur confirms
directive would last no more than a few
the
months.
combining holiday time with business
The
hotel
is
Marina,
seeing
more
Cairns guests
hours in the capital of Tropical North Overnight
bricks-and-mortar
emptied,
with
staff
offices
setting
Queensland.
up
temporary workspaces on the dining
“Bleisure is one of the post-pandemic
room table or an old desk in the
trends, with guests adopting their own
bedroom, and we set about learning to
hybrid approach to work while staying
navigate the Q of working remotely.
with us,” he says.
But as we faced the challenges of
“That might be plugging in from their
the
Delta
variants,
rooms using the high-speed internet,
and
lock-down
lasting
working from our Business Centre,
work-from-home
sitting beside the pool with the laptop
and
Omicron looked
indefinitely,
our
arrangements
were
became
like
perfected
and
on their knees, or settling into one of
with
WFH
the quiet spaces around the property.
permanent
deposited into daily conversations. “In the Business Centre there are Statistics show staff have adapted to
computer
this “new normal”, with research firm
for video conferencing and access to
Ivanti’s 2022
secretarial support including printing,
Everywhere
Workplace
Report disclosing an astounding 87 per
stations,
private
spaces
photocopying and courier services.
cent of respondents are now opposed to returning to the office full time.
“Horizon Club guests, and those staying in our suites, can tackle morning emails
Even more telling, 71 per cent of those
with a coffee and pastry in the private
that took part in the study would
lounge or reserve the Horizon Club
pick working from anywhere before
Boardroom for in-person or virtual
accepting
meetings with space featuring the
a
promotion,
with
the
benefits listed as saving money and
technology to video conference.
improving the work-life balance. “And our rooms all feature a spacious Then
gently
desk with those famous Trinity Inlet,
morphed into “work from here” with
“work
from
home”
Coral Sea, garden, city or mountain
those able to hit the road unplugging
views framed when guests look up
and packing to take laptops away.
from their work.”
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 Shangri-La The Marina,
DELUXE ROOM The hotel’s 98 Deluxe Rooms feature a king or two queen beds and are positioned to take in city, mountain, swimming pool or garden views
from
each
ROOM WRAP
Cairns offers 51 Deluxe Sea
View
Rooms
to
guests that want to gaze across the blue. These rooms have a king or two
queen
are
positioned
beds
and
beside
the Coral Sea to savour sunset.
private
balcony or veranda.
HORIZON CLUB ROOM Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts are famous for their Horizon Club levels. Our 32 Horizon Club Rooms boast Marlin Marina or Trinity Bay views, a functional deck, sitting area, and indulgent bathroom.
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The Royal Treatment Those seeking a unique stay when visiting Tropical North Queensland can’t go past Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns’ regal Royal Suite. FANCY sleeping in the same suite as English royalty
This luxurious multi-roomed abode crowns the
on your next visit to Tropical North Queensland?
hotel’s south tower and offers uninterrupted views across Trinity Inlet to the mountains surrounding
Not at the same time, obviously. That would land
the city from the floor-to-ceiling windows that wrap
you in a whole lot of trouble with the Scotland Yard
around the big bedroom and abundant living area.
officers protecting the UK’s top-level bluebloods. Sliding doors open the space to long balconies, a But you could occupy the Royal Suite at Shangri-La
dining table ample enough to seat eight makes it
The Marina, Cairns which was home to Prince Charles
perfect for fine dining with a view, and the kitchen
during his 2018 visit to the memorable destination
features a separate entrance to let service staff come
where rainforest meets reef.
and go without moving through the room.
VIRTUAL TOUR
On Trend for Versatility Keen for an adaptable space? Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns has a room that can do it.
THE COVID-19 crisis has prompted a tectonic shift in the way we live. Diminished is the desire for open-plan living, with separate but connected rooms now in demand so those sharing space under the same roof can retreat to their own area when it’s time to work and study or relax and socialise. This trend is also translating to the business events landscape, with organisers requesting flexible rooms to be divided into different areas while allowing delegates to circulate and converse. Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns was designed to offer this versatility to both big and small groups. The Event Centre – the dedicated business events address with a separate entrance away from the hotel lobby – features the Lagoon, Trinity and Marlin rooms all opening to a private pre-function space. This gives groups of up to 250 people the freedom to access a plenary, breakout rooms, exhibition spaces, refreshment stations and networking nooks. Planners after the same adaptability, but with fewer delegates, will find a solution in the Marlin Room which features sliding room dividers that can be partially closed to create three minor but still connected venues. In early 2022 a client embraced this opportunity for flexibility by setting up one end of the 247sqm north-facing location as a theatre with stage, the opposite end was arranged in classroom formation, and the middle featured couches and high tables with stools for socialising between sessions.
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 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 the Cairns Esplanade parklands. The room offers easy access to the Trinity Balcony, which faces the sunset
THE BACKYARD
making it perfect for a late-afternoon function.
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.
BALLROOM Every grand event deserves to be staged in Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns’ elegant Ballroom. The
300sq/m
pre-function
room space
also to
boats
easily
a
120sq/m
accommodate
big groups ready to celebrate, congregate or conference.
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MARLIN ROOM This 247sq/m room occupies 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 Celebrate
MARINA ROOM The
Marina
sits inside the hotel’s façade
windows
framing
with a
vista across Trinity Inlet. This adaptable 120sq/m venue
can
broken
also
be
into
three
smaller
spaces
–
at
30sq/m
or
40sq/m
–
to
accommodate
best
of
Tropical North Queensland
Room
southern
the
VENUE WRAP
in
a
space
sprawling that
weatherproof
outdoor
sits
under
shade
sails
to make it a pleasant yearround location. The 320sq/m area can accommodate 300 guests at round tables with extra space for a stage.
any
occasion.
FOREST GARDENS A secluded corner of the hotel’s lush tropical gardens, which our staff horticulturist Chris Young carefully curates, provides a peaceful place for an outdoor event amongst the year-round greenery.
35
Technology Leads the Way Lisa Perkovic talks trends to uncover how Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns and Encore Event Technologies are combining to produce events with the best of today’s audio-visual equipment.
ENCORE’S Far North Queensland Event Technology
communicate and then draw on the technology to
Venue Director Chris Targett has to walk a fine line
make that possible.”
when planning the audio-visual equipment for an event at Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns.
This might be new technology like hybrid event solutions, but it’s also elements that allow the
“There’s nothing worse than coming all the way to Far
incorporation of natural light for the entire duration
North Queensland, booking an event in a beautiful
of a session.
room with natural light, and then saying sorry, we have to close the blinds because we have to put the
Flexibility to offer everything from simple out-of-the-
projector on,” Chris says.
box solutions through to complex, customised sets is easier than ever for Encore.
“Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns’ event spaces have great natural light, and views overlooking Marlin Marina,
The team used the quiet periods of the pandemic
and Encore has the equipment to complement that
to establish closer ties to the wider Encore network,
so guests can still appreciate the natural surroundings
which included streamlining access to resources and
while enjoying the presentation.
technology solutions.
“And during this post-pandemic phase, with people
Whether it’s high-end LED wall infrastructure and
excited to rediscover and reconnect with locations,
holographic products, or a range of scenic stage sets
events need to be about more than the message on
and stage looks, event organisers visiting Tropical
the screen.”
North Queensland will have access to the same technology experiences available in any capital city.
For the Encore team, working with clients to ensure the vision for the entire experience is vital.
There is no doubt hybrid events will continue to be popular this year, and the technology is just as
“People have been cooped up inside, locked in their
important.
houses for so long, they’re much more open-minded to an event space, they want an overall experience,
Exclusive to Encore’s virtual event platform offering is
with live events offering unique solutions,” Chris says.
Chime Go, providing optimised streaming solutions emphasising seamless incorporation.
“We
are
experienced
in
matching
technology
solutions to client needs, but more than that, we
“Video conferencing within events is so much more
focus on enhancing their vision and exploring new
common than it was pre-pandemic,” Chris says.
areas people might not know about. “It’s important to us to offer clients a great experience “Event organisers don’t need to be tech gurus,
in that space, and we have access to the global
that’s our job, and we’re here to listen, understand
network of Encore’s experts ensuring there’s a huge
what’s important, what message the client wants to
depth of knowledge to draw upon.”
BARBECUE IN THE BACKYARD The Backyard’s marina-side garden is one of the best plots in Tropical North Queensland for casual gatherings with strings of festoon lights, balmy tropical nights, a sky full of stars, and the Container Bar enhancing the delicious after-dark atmosphere.
TIME FOR TRINITY An elevated position above the Coral Sea, facing the sunset to perfectly frame the colours of a Far North evening, is
Make Meetings More Than Work GETTING the team together need not just be about work, with a business event the perfect excuse to schedule an awards dinner that recognises success or a garden party to reconnect after months of meeting on monitors. The events team at Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns is expert at putting together parties that elevate any MICE moment from meeting to memorable.
essential for an occasion that starts with late-afternoon drinks before dinner at a baronial king’s table.
CHAMPAGNE & CAVIAR DREAMS Inject signature Shangri-La style into the celebration by arranging for Executive Chef Aaron Habgood to open his pop-up caviar and champagne bar in the Royal Suite or Forest Garden.
GALA DINNER IN THE BALLROOM A
glitzy
and
glamorous
ballroom
demands the fancy attire and formal dining that boosts something that’s simply sociable into a magical moment spoiling
those
celebrated.
that
deserve
to
be
Living Localisation Sarah Nicholson learns that one of 2022 big food trends has been business as usual for Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns Executive Chef Aaron Habgood. A 2021 report produced by HelloFresh revealed
farm near Millaa Millaa, citrus from orchards
a third more Australians are searching locally for
around Mareeba, and seafood caught between
food than 10 years ago, with 25 per cent of the
Cairns and the Cape as well as the Gulf of
population committed to eating produce that
Carpentaria,” Aaron says.
makes a shorter journey from paddock to plate. “There is some brilliant coffee being grown on But this post-pandemic trend was no revelation
the Tablelands, and I had fun creating a menu
for the team at Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns
for a foodie group recently that incorporated a
with
particular plantation’s beans in the courses as
Executive
Chef
Aaron
Habgood
long
committed to localisation and incorporating
well as pre-dinner cocktails.
Tropical North Queensland’s impressive inventory of locally-grown goodies into menus.
“Tropical North Queensland is underrated as a food destination, visitors don’t realise how much
“We
use
Stockmans
Dairy
Farmers
milk
Eggs from
from
Atherton,
is grown locally, and I believe making our produce
around
Malanda,
the star of the show at a business event helps
Mungalli Creek yogurt produced on a biodynamic
make the occasion exceptional.”
VISIT THE BACKYARD
More Than Just a Place PIERPOINT ROAD, CAIRNS, QUEENSLAND 07 4052 7636 | events.slmc@shangri-la.com | www.shangri-la.com/cairns