Spice November 2013

ISSUE 4 QUARTERLY 2013

SPECIAL EVENTS

PRODUCT LAUNCHES

INCENTIVES

CONFERENCES

EXHIBITIONS

www.spicenews.com.au

ACCOR’S CBD EVENT OFFERING STRONGER THAN EVER

Heart starters: Everything new in adrenaline activities Group love: Teambuilding update It List: The events that rocked 2013 Fine China: How to do business with China plus Club Med Guilin review

Pullman Melbourne Albert Park

The best laid plans, brought to life Let our team help you create a grand impression in the new Grand Ballroom at the Shangri-La.

CONTENTS

FEATURES Teambuilding

6

Think teambuilding is a tired, old concept?

Think again with these challenging new concepts.

REGULARS

22

News 6 Stay in the know with what’s happening across the country with the latest industry news.

8 Outdoor Events and Suppliers There’s a special art to perfecting outdoor events.

Read on for the players who are hitting hole-in-ones.

20

Adrenaline Do your clients have nerves of steel?

They’re going to need them with the new breed of adrenaline events that include everything from jet-packs through to live volcanoes.

30

News 8 From North Island to South Island, here’s what’s happening in New Zealand.

11

The Buzz 11 All the little bits of information and ideas that keep your events buzzing with excitement.

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The It List A selection of some of 2013’s best and brightest events.

ON THE COVER Accor Ramps Up Its CBD Events Offering

14 Openings 14 Need to find a brand new venue that hasn’t yet been seen by your clients?

Here’s the best place to start; fresh out of the box, we present the best new and refurbished venues across the country.

As some of Australia’s major cities embark on ambitious plans to upgrade meeting and conference infrastructure, Accor has followed suit and invested heavily in expanding and rejuvenating its meeting, event and conference offering throughout the portfolio.

As Australia’s largest business hotel operator, the company has grown its collection to over 130 properties throughout Australia, catering from 60 to 1000 delegates. With hotels located in every major Australian capital, Accor’s expansive portfolio is lauded for its choice, location and innovation.

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EDITORIAL

START YOUR ENGINES

Managing Director Simon Grover Publisher James Wells Editor Emma Gardiner emma@intermedia.com.au Managing Editor James Wilkinson jwilkinson@intermedia.com.au National Sales Team Katherine Ross Ben Curtis Lillian Rojas Art Director Sean Barlow Head of Circulation Chris Blacklock ph 1800 651 422 Production Manager Jacqui Cooper jacqui@intermedia.com.au

issue 4 - 2013

Hello and welcome to my first issue as editor of Spice Magazine.

Some of you may know me from the last eleven years spent working in the Communications industry but many of you will not so I look forward to meeting you over the next few months.

While everyone else is winding down, some of us in the events industry are gearing up for the busiest time of year. This issue is dedicated to all things hot (like the weather); outdoor events and suppliers, everything that’s new (and terrifying) in adrenaline events and fresh ways to keep teambuilding events targeted and entertaining.

We will round up the year’s best and brightest events in the It List; from a Q&A with Bill Gates to a high end jewellery launch held in a vault, right through to Audi Race Week on Hamilton Island and TEDx in Sydney.

In this issue we hear from EEAA’s Joyce DiMascio and Tourism Australia Business Events’ Penny Lion, and we also get a glimpse at the new Club Med in Guilin, China. Good times ahead!

Emma Gardiner Editor

SPICE MAGAZINE NATIONAL SALES TEAM

Katherine Ross + 61 2 8586 6176 kross@intermedia.com.au

Ben Curtis +61 2 8586 6216 bcurtis@intermedia.com.au

Production Assistant Carly Saillard csaillard@intermedia.com.au The opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers in SPICE magazine are not necessarily those of Intermedia’s management or staff.

All material contained in SPICE is copyright.

SPICE Magazine is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (ABN 940 025 836 82) 41 Bridge Road, Glebe NSW 2037 Phone: 02 9660 2113 Fax: 02 9660 4419 ISSN 1832-7176

Spice Magazine and spicenews.com.au are proud media partners of:

Spice Magazine SpiceNews.com.au

Lillian Rojas + 61 2 8586 6170 lrojas@intermedia.com.au

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for extra news, the latest industry jobs, special offers and competitions and many more things you won’t get anywhere else. Find us on Twitter @SpiceNewsMag or on facebook at www.Facebook.com/SpiceNews

Register yourself at SpiceNews.com.au to receive the latest news faster than any other news provider in the industry. Our twice-weekly updates and online news provides all the latest on venues, services, suppliers, event reviews, special competitions and offers and more.

And best of all - it’s free!

DISCLAIMER This publication is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (the “Publisher”). Materials in this publication have been created by a variety of different entities and, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher accepts no liability for materials created by others. All materials should be considered protected by Australian and international intellectual property laws. Unless you are authorised by law or the copyright owner to do so, you may not copy any of the materials.

The mention of a product or service, person or company in this publication does not indicate the Publisher’s endorsement. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Publisher, its agents, company officers or employees. Any use of the information contained in this publication is at the sole risk of the person using that information.

The user should make independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information before relying on that information.

All express or implied terms, conditions, warranties, statements, assurances

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and representations in relation to the Publisher, its publications and its services are expressly excluded save for those conditions and warranties which must be implied under the laws of any State of Australia or the provisions of Division 2 of Part V of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof. To the extent permitted by law, the Publisher will not be liable for any damages including special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of any kind arising in contract, tort or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damages. While we use our best endeavours to ensure accuracy of the materials we create, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher excludes all liability for loss resulting from any inaccuracies or false or misleading statements that may appear in this publication.

Copyright © 2013 - The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd.

Waterfront corporate events NEW U

VEN

» Wa E lsh Bay «

Dedes on the Wharf, Pier 2 Walsh Bay

With stunning waterfront venues and flexible spaces that can be tailored to suit every need, Dedes Group events are both convenient and inspiring.

Flying Fish, Pyrmont DED2550/3-degrees.com.au

Our 35 year focus on delivering the very best in hospitality, has earned us a reputation for the highest quality events. You’re guaranteed a truly memorable event every time.

Deckhouse, Woolwich

1800 EVENTS

dedesgroup.com.au

Dedes at the Point, Abbotsford

NEWS

Toga’s Rendezvous management contract takes the group’s total property count up to 65 hotels in Australia, New Zealand and Europe

TOGA HOTELS TO RUN RENDEZVOUS HOTELS Toga Hotels has announced that it will manage and consult to eleven Rendezvous Hotels across Australia and New Zealand. The extension of Toga’s portfolio stems from the recent joint venture between parent company Toga Group and Far East Hospitality Holdings (Far East Hospitality). Far East Hospitality was formed by a separate joint venture between Singapore-listed company Far East Orchard Limited and The Straits Trading Company Limited.

Toga Hotels will initially assume responsibility for the management of the Rendezvous Grand Hotel Perth Scarborough, Rendezvous Studio Hotel Perth Central, Rendezvous Grand Hotel Melbourne and Rendezvous Grand Hotel Adelaide as part of a transition that will increase its accommodation offering to more than 65 hotels across Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

Far East Hospitality’s joint venture with Toga Group positions Toga

Hotels as one of the largest hospitality management platforms in Australia. This joint venture also expands Far East Hospitality’s portfolio with award-winning brands, adding the Adina Apartment Hotels, Medina Serviced Apartments, Vibe Hotels and Travelodge to its existing portfolio which comprises Quincy, Oasia, Rendezvous, Village, Far East Collection and Marque.

The joint venture between Toga Group and Far East Hospitality is in-line with Toga Hotels’ ongoing growth strategy. Toga Group and Far East Hospitality will be able to combine their financial resources to pursue more yield accretive acquisitions and growth opportunities, either in hospitality-related assets or hospitality management business.

At the same time it is envisaged that the combined operations will draw potential cost savings and greater operational efficiencies for both Far East Hospitality’s and Toga Hotels’ operations.

FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON SYDNEY AT DARLING HARBOUR ADDS THIRD TOWER Singaporean property development company M&L Hospitality Executive Chairman Michael Kum has announced that a third tower will be added to Four Points by Sheraton Sydney at Darling Harbour.

Spanning the Western Distributor Expressway and with 230 rooms, the new tower will house 4800 square metres of conference space for up 3000 delegates split between two ballrooms and eleven breakout areas. The tower will have 5000 square metres of office space and a restaurant precinct that opens into Sussex Street.

The $160 million development will start construction in the first quarter of 2014 and is scheduled for completion in mid-2015. Cox Richardson architects designed the new tower with construction taking place in partnership with Brookfield Multiplex and Starwood Hotels, the managers of the property.

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The third tower of Four Points by Sheraton at Darling Harbour will span the Western Distributor Expressway

NEWS

ZOMBIE EVILUTION ARRIVES AT DREAMWORLD Dreamworld has recently launched its newest attraction: Zombie Evilution. Set in a fictional town called ‘Kevil Hill’, guests make their way through the dark remains of the Kevil Hill buildings among the predatory zombies. Produced by world renowned ‘Scare Master’ Lynton V Harris of Sudden Impact Entertainment, Zombie Evilution will challenge all who enter its doors to not scream in complete terror. www.dreamworld.com.au

GLEBE ISLAND TEMPORARY SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE SEC UNDER CONSTRUCTION

The transformation of Glebe Island into Sydney’s newest exhibition centre is in full swing with four cranes required to manoeuvre the 150-tonne roof and frame into place for the largest of the exhibition halls.

The hall covers about one third of the 25,000 square metre site with the rest of the structure to be built before Christmas to allow testing and commissioning before Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island opens for its first event in February.

Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island will be the interim facility for exhibitions from 2014–16 during the construction of the new international exhibition centre at Darling Harbour.

The Glebe Island site is one of the few places in Sydney where both the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the ANZAC Bridge are fully visible and there will be a range of popup catering options available, including the possibility of food trucks.

Free special event transport will be available

KERZNER TO TURN HAYMAN INTO THE ONE AND ONLY South African property development company Kerzner International Holdings Limited has taken over the management of Hayman Island and is overseeing a multimillion dollar redevelopment that will be unveiled in April 2014. Despite rumours to the contrary, Mulpha Australia will still retain full ownership.

Mulpha Australia’s Executive Chairman Seng Huang Lee said, “Hayman has long been acclaimed as an iconic Australian resort and Kerzner is the perfect partner to herald in a new era for the resort under their One&Only brand. The transformational refurbishment combined with One&Only’s innovation and commitment to delivering an extraordinary level of service will redefine resort luxury in Australia.”

Upgrades to the property include the addition of one and two bedroom suits to The Pool Wing, refurbishment of all Hayman rooms and suites, addition of cabanas and day beds to the pool area, direct pool access from selected private terraces, the launch of the One&Only Health Spa and an adjacent beauty salon, the addition of a state-of-the-art fitness centre with expert personal training and an adults-only pool and chill-out lounge area.

As part of the ongoing development and investment programme, Mulpha Australia will continue a staged rollout of the ultra-luxury Hayman Private Residences and Hayman Marina Residences offering private ownership opportunities for select clients and guests.

on exhibition show days with both scheduled ferries from Darling Harbour and shuttle buses from Central Station.

Watch the construction process on YouTube and pictorially on Instagram by visiting www.sydneyexhibitioncentre.com.au

DINNER IN THE SKY DEBUTS TO AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC High-flying dining concept ‘Dinner in the Sky’ launched to the public for the first time as part of the SMH Good Food Month program of events.

In partnership with mobile bartender Kubarz, Dinner in the Sky is a 22-seater table that is elevated 50 metres above the ground and comes complete with a Chef and waitstaff to serve diners.

After Good Food Month, Dinner in the Sky will run a series of events for corporate and Christmas bookings from November in Sydney and will launch in Melbourne and New Zealand in 2014. www.eventsinthesky.com.au

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NZ NEWS

NOVOTEL CHRISTCHURCH CATHEDRAL SQUARE OPENS Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square opened its doors to become the newest city centre hotel and Accor’s second property to reopen since the February 2011 earthquake.

General manager of Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square Carl Braddock said that the re-opening of the Novotel marks another significant step in the recovery of the city’s tourism industry.

“After working countless hours and Host Hotels & Resorts investing more than twenty million dollars to bring the hotel back to its former glory, we are totally over the moon to welcome back the first guests to Novotel Christchurch.

Braddock said, “We are confident that locals and our guests will be proud of what has been achieved over the last two years and bookings are already streaming in. We aim to have the heart of Christchurch beating strongly again in no time and help accelerate the city’s central business district and tourism industry recovery.”

The reincarnated 13- storey Novotel has extensive conference and meeting facilities and will play a major role in Christchurch’s ability to host large tour groups, major conferences and boost local employment.

Located just 30 minutes from Christchurch Airport, the Novotel is surrounded by the renewed central city shopping areas, the planned convention centre, performing arts and Justice and Emergency services precincts.

The new Novotel in Cathedral Square is one of the first city centre properties to reopen after the earthquake

TOURISM NEW ZEALAND TO PUSH PERTH TO CHRISTCHURCH FLIGHTS The Canterbury region of New Zealand is targeting West Australian travellers with the launch of a new advertising campaign that promotes Air New Zealand’s direct flights.

The campaign is aiming to entice West Australians to take up Air New Zealand’s twice weekly direct flights between Perth and Christchurch. The flights, starting in early December will be a seasonal service with the potential to extend to year round.

Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism Chief Executive Tim Hunter said he is excited about the strategic advertising campaign that will be in market from November in print, outdoor and online advertising channels.

Hunter said, “The campaign is about showing West Australians the diversity of the experiences Christchurch and Canterbury have on offer in the hope they’ll want to jump straight on the new direct service.

“We are hoping to see significant opportunities for growth from the introduction of direct flights from the booming West Australian market in both business and leisure visitor numbers.”

The growth in West Australian visitors to New Zealand has outpaced other Australian states with a 22% increase in visitors since 2010.

For more information visit newzealand.com

CONNECTABUS BRANDED TRANSFER VEHICLES AVAILABLE IN QUEENSTOWN Wouldn’t it be cool if you could surprise your incentive group with a specially sign-written transfer bus? Now you can with Connectabus in Queenstown.

The company has a fleet ranging from private car transfers to 23 and 46 seat coaches and can move groups of up to 500 and anything in between, all of which can be branded to your specifications.

Furthermore, Connectabus works with local jet boat operator KJet to organise jet boat transfers for groups travelling to their hotel accommodation.

TOURISM NEW ZEALAND LAUNCHES BUSINESS EVENTS WEBSITE TNZ has launched a dedicated portal for the business events sector called Beyond Convention. Combining all of the necessary resources in terms of venue and destination information, incentive group suppliers and critically, contact details for local representatives, the website takes a lot of the hassle out of planning an event in New Zealand.

www.connectabus.com www.businessevents.newzealand.com 8 Spice

BEYOND THE AGENDA

A business event in New Zealand goes beyond expectation.

Boasting world-class facilities, spectacular landscapes, friendly people, and a diverse range of activities within easy reach, New Zealand will take your next event from ordinary to extraordinary. Plan the conference they’ll never forget today.

businessevents.newzealand.com TOU0054\SPICE\TBWA

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

BRANSON UNVEILS ‘NEW’ NECKER ISLAND Sir Richard Branson’s Great House on Necker Island, severely damaged in a storm two years ago, has made its renovated debut.

The Great House, the private home of Sir Richard Branson and part of the Virgin Limited Edition collection which is available for $60,000 a night, was burnt to the ground during Hurricane Irene, almost costing the life of his 90-year-old mum Eve. After a two-year project, the Great House was re-modelled on the original design, with the addition of some innovative design twists.

Inspired by the beautiful features and Balinese style of the original structure, the new Great House offers breath-taking panoramic views of the Caribbean, the Atlantic and neighbouring islands.

Each of the eight guest rooms has a balcony, and all come with king-size beds

and spacious en-suite bathrooms.

On the upper level is the Master Suite, which is 1,500 square feet and has been designed for panoramic views from virtually every angle and includes a two-person jacuzzi, a stand-alone outdoor bath and a kitchenette area with a fully-stocked fridge.

ANANTARA BRAND LAUNCHES IN CAMBODIA Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has opened the 25th property in its growing portfolio – Anantara Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Anantara Angkor resort pays tribute to Khmer tradition and culture throughout every touch point. A bird’s eye view reveals that the resort is shaped to resemble Angkor Wat and at ground level it is reminiscent of a grand Khmer villa with a courtyard pool inspired by an ancient royal bathing pool. Each stone pillar at the resort has meticulously carved fans which represent a royal welcome and the Khmer wooden carvings throughout the resort showcase the country’s rich history.

The collection of 39 guest rooms and suites of between 48 and 140 square metres are designed in contemporary Cambodian style, with handcrafted teak wood furniture, rich textiles and a unique local artwork. All include a private balcony overlooking the central courtyard pool, as well as a lounge space and a luxury bathroom with a separate bathtub and rain shower.

A stay at Anantara Angkor Resort & Spa is not complete without discovering the local highlights including a walk to the Cambodian Cultural Village to find out about the traditional customs of the nation’s diverse ethnic minorities, half and full day guided bicycle tours of Siem Reap’s bustling markets, French Quarter, riverside attractions and arts centre, as well as the illustrious Angkor Wat - the best preserved of all the temples in the the UNESCO listed Angkor Archaeological Park – the world’s largest religious monument.

Conveniently situated within a five minute drive from Siem Reap International Airport, Anantara Angkor Resort & Spa can also be reached by land from Thailand, Laos or Vietnam as well as via the Mekong River.

HOTEL CLOVER 769 NORTH BRIDGE ROAD OPENS IN SINGAPORE Located in the Kampong Glam area of Singapore, Hotel Clover 769 North Bridge Road is a new 27 room boutique hotel owned by Singa Group Of Companies.

Formerly a tailor shop and a jewellery parlour, the property dates from the 1860s and has been revamped to provide guests with luxury rooms and facilities that combine luxury with heritage.

Facilities include wifi, free local calls, in room broadband, air conditioning, in-suite Jacuzzis and an open plan reception area ideal for small functions.

The hotel is a 7-minute walk from Bugis MRT Station, a 10-minute drive from nightlife options at Clarke Quay and shopping at Orchard Road and a 25-minute drive from Changi International Airport.

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THE BUZZ

NEW STUFF, FUN STUFF, USEFUL STUFF NOBLE AWARDS PROGRAM SUPPORTS SANDOGAN VILLAGE IN THE PHILLIPINES The next time you need to buy trophies, memorial plaques, corporate gifts or glass signage, spare a thought for Noble Awards, an Australian business that donates a significant proportion of its profits to a community development program in a remote indigenous village in the foothill of the Central Mindanao region. Noble Awards founder Ian McKay came up with the idea for the business with his late wife. When she passed away, he decided to make Noble Awards a reality and has already made significant progress in providing free education, dental care, agricultural training and water purification programs to the people of the region. www.nobleawards.com.au

JET CREATIONS INFLATABLES Have you ever wanted to create your own inflatable zoo? Well, now you can with the range of critters from Jet Creations in the US. Festive reindeer, a whole African savannah’s worth of zebras, giraffe, elephants and tigers, not to mention Spice’s favourite: the dinosaur range. Give Clive Palmer’s Palmersaurus a run for its money at your next event. Order online from the US. www.jetcreations.com

CHILL N POUR FOR PERFECTLY COLD, DRIP-FREE POURING Doing battle with the summer heat at outdoor events in Australia can be a real challenge. After all, no one wants a warm Chardonnay or Champagne. Chill n Pour is a nifty new device from wine accessory company WineX. The way it works is that you place a stainless steel rod filled with a special thermal gel into the freezer for an hour, attach the dripless pourer, pour a glass of wine and then insert the Chill n Pour into the remainder to ensure that the rest of the bottle stays cold and there are no messy drips. Say goodbye to ice buckets and stained tablecloths forever!

THE GOODS TUBE MAKES GIVING LOOK BETTER The next generation of corporate gift, The Goods Tube is the brainchild of an Aussie architect and a Danish importer. The Goods Tube offers beautifully collated gifts delivered in a sleek black tube. Choose from fancy booze, bath products, candles, playing cards and there’s even a Swedish camping axe if that’s what you’re into. Everything in the collection has an edge of Copenhagen cool that will make the giver look as good as the receiver. www.thegoodstube.com

www.chillnpour.com.au Spice 11

Get organised for 2014 with A LIST Guide’s selection of Australia’s leading venues and event suppliers.

ON THE COVER

Pullman Melbourne Albert Park

ACCOR RAMPS UP ITS CBD EVENTS OFFERING, ADDS PULLMAN

A

s some of Australia’s major cities embark on ambitious plans to upgrade meeting and conference infrastructure, Accor has followed suit and invested heavily in expanding and rejuvenating its meeting, event and conference offering throughout the portfolio.

As Australia’s largest business hotel operator, Accor has grown its collection to over 130 properties throughout Australia, catering from 60 to 1000 delegates theatre style. With hotels located in every major Australian capital and experiences ranging from economy through to 5-star, Accor’s expansive portfolio is lauded for its choice, location and innovation.

Australia’s leading 5-star brand Pullman, which focuses on the requirements of the cosmopolitan, seasoned business traveller, has arrived in the major hubs of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Accor’s Pullman Melbourne Albert Park Ballroom

focus on the expansion of Pullman in the Australian market over the past 12 months has meant significant investment and upgrades in the portfolio.

Following a $7 million refurbishment in early 2013, Pullman Brisbane King George Square is now Brisbane’s largest hotel conferencing venue.

More recently, the unveiling of the new-look Pullman Melbourne Albert Park in September has positioned it as one of the largest and most comprehensive event venues in Melbourne with twenty-eight event spaces over 2600sqm.

Further north, Pullman Cairns International received Tourism Tropical North Queensland’s Business Tourism award for maximising the tourism experience for meetings and business travellers following its rebranding in 2012.

Novotel, Accor’s leading brand in the 4-star market with a strong focus on the business and MICE sectors will be a major focus for the group in 2014.

Two top conference and events hotels – Novotel Sydney Central and Novotel Sydney Parramatta – have recently completed extensive refurbishment programs that reflect Accor’s confidence and continued investment in the MICE market.

The Novotel Sydney Central’s location offers easy access to the CBD, financial district and the best of Sydney’s attractions. Having undergone an expansive room refurbishment, the Novotel’s conference and meeting spaces are scheduled to be revamped and unveiled in January 2014.

Offering a different destination experience, Novotel Sydney Parramatta is Greater Western Sydney’s leading conference, event and convention specialist. Following its refurbishment in October, the hotel offers high-speed broadband and wireless internet, state-of-the-art audio visual equipment in all its meeting rooms and dedicated event personnel.

In addition to Accor’s significant investment in infrastructure, the hotel group is also focused on constantly rejuvenating their hotels with innovative concepts to keep meetings and events contemporary and engaging. Pullman’s Co-meeting promise is a new concept implemented across the board to guarantee seamless and innovative events.

Co-meeting promises a dedicated event team, the latest generation equipment, customised meeting rooms, chill out spaces and innovative breaks such as yoga sessions in the park at Pullman Sydney Hyde Park.

Elizabeth Ford, Director of Sales - Business Travel at Accor said “Accor’s significant investment coupled with the brand’s innovation of the meeting, event and conference offering has seen our CBD-based hotels go from strength to strength in the MICE space. With a keen focus on upgrading infrastructure, Accor’s CBD hotels have come to be the most sought after venues in their respective locations.”

For more information visit www.accorbusinessevents.com.au

Pullman Brisbane King George Square

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Stay on top of all the newest event spaces across the country The entry foyer at Hotel 1888 features raw, exposed beams, felt lightshades and a ‘selfie space’

8HOTELS OPENS NEW PYRMONT PROPERTY 1888 Hotel in Pyrmont is the latest addition to the 8Hotels collection that includes the Limes Hotel in Brisbane and the Diamant Hotels in Sydney and Canberra.

Built inside an old wool store, the name of the property refers to the original year of construction. This 90 room boutique hotel has five room types; starting from the playfully titled ‘Shoebox’ up to the apartmentstyle suites. The hotel also has a meeting room-cum-private dining room that comfortably seats 14 people.

With free wifi throughout the property and in-room iPads instead of the usual compendiums, 1888’s focus on access to technology extends to the Mac area in the lobby that has a live Instagram feed of

MERCURE PORTSEA GOLF CLUB AND RESORT OPENS IN VICTORIA Part of the Accor Group, Mercure Portsea Golf Club & Resort has been developed by Portsea Golf Club as part of a fully integrated multi-million dollar development incorporating a new Club house, accommodation and function complex.

The Mercure hotel offers 24 state-of-the-art accommodation rooms and excellent facilities for both business and leisure travellers, including onsite Spike restaurant and conference facilities that can cater for corporate events, meetings and weddings for up to 300 people.

Mercure Portsea Golf Club & Resort joins an existing network of more than 30 Accor hotels across Victoria and the 39th Mercure hotel in Australia.

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images that bear the #1888hotel hashtag. There’s also a ‘selfie space’ – a gold frame that hangs from fishing line for guests to use as a prop in photos.

Located behind the Sydney Exhibition and Convention Centre and down the road from The Star casino, the hotel is a perfect escape for discerning delegates. There is a Wilson’s Parking opposite the hotel and paid on-street parking for guests that want to drive.

The soothing wood, leather and fabric interior design has a distinctly Danish feel and the bar and breakfast menu is quirky, elegant and heavily features local produce, wine and beer. www.1888hotel.com.au Location, location: Mercure Portsea located in the centre of a stunning golf course

DEDES ON THE WHARF OPENS UNDER THE HARBOUR BRIDGE You cannot beat the location of the Dedes Group’s latest acquisition – Dedes on the Wharf. Located at Wharf 3 on Hickson Rd, the dining room overlooks the Harbour Bridge and across the water to Luna Park.

Formerly Ottoman Cuisine, the restaurant has been modified slightly under the stewardship of Dedes. Serving up all the Dedes favourites, including the legendary hot and cold seafood platter, this venue is the ultimate in Sydney-centric dining.

Seating up to 160 and up to 350 cocktail-style including the outdoor deck area, Dedes on the Wharf is running special events for Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve but still has availability for last minute November and December bookings. http://dedesonthewharf.com.au/ The view from Dedes on the Wharf Tune Hotel in Melbourne is now open for business

TUNE HOTELS OPENS IN MELBOURNE Tune Hotels opened its first Australian hotel in Melbourne in October this year.

The 225-room Tune Hotel Melbourne at 609 Swanston Street, Carlton is conveniently located next to the University of Melbourne, just two streets away from popular Lygon Street, a short walk to Queen Victoria Market and minutes to Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD).

The property features an indoor courtyard, a recreational lounge, a restaurant, café/convenience store, luggage storage, self-service launderette and computer kiosks. It is also equipped with a basement car park, something unusual for city centre hotels in Australia. Tune Hotel Melbourne will be the 33rd property for international value hotel brand Tune Hotels.

Tune Hotels has pioneered a ‘pay-as-you-use’ concept where guests only pay for room rates with the option of adding on other amenities like towels and toiletries, in-room wifi and satellite TV service.

ARTISAN WINE STORAGE TASTING VENUE OPENS A contemporary wine tasting lounge and event space has opened in Sydney just in time for the festive season. Artisan Wine Storage is a $2 million storage facility complete with a wine tasting lounge and private dining room. Specially designed for wine tastings, wine and food matching dinners, wine educationals, cocktail events and private film screenings, this venue is located in Lane Cove West making it especially suited to a North Shore clientele.

The Wine Tasting Lounge has been custom-built for wine tastings and comes fully equipped with all the necessary equipment including wine dispensing machines, Riedel tasting glasses and decanters. Also furnished with a HD projector and screen, 7.1 surround sound system and free Wi-Fi, the lounge easily accommodates a variety of functions and room layouts. This modern event space presents as a stylish and professional venue with the capacity to seat up to 32, 40 for dinner and 70 cocktail style.

The private dining room, dubbed Methuselah’s Cellar, displays museum wines from many renowned wineries including the only public, dual vertical display of Penfolds Grange bottles (1951-2008) and magnums (1979-2008). The cellar is beautifully hand-crafted

Artisan Wine Storag has been purpose-built for wine tastings

and presented in Figured Tasmanian Oak and also contains 44 member Vin-Crypts for storing wine. Access to a Vin-Crypt is part of a corporate membership package with an extensive list of member benefits.

Artisan Wine Storage is just 15 minutes from Sydney’s CBD and is the North Shore’s easiest and most convenient venue with free parking on-site.

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SHORT BITES

NOMAD TO SHOWCASE BOUTIQUE AUSSIE PRODUCERS

A

new Sydney-based cellar door located in a turn-of-the century warehouse is shining a spotlight on emerging wine regions such as Orange, Mudgee and Canberra.

Owners Al Yazbek (formerly of Toko) and his partner Rebecca Littlemore have hired in Master of Wine Rob Geddes and Heston Blumenthal alumni Nathan Sazi to look after the wine list and menu respectively.

They have also carried through the local theme with furniture and flatware from Aussie designers Ross Didier (seating), Henry Wilson A-Joints (tables) and Malcolm Greenwood (plates).

With an open plan, Nomad can be configured to hold groups of 12, 36 or at capacity with 150 people.

The wines on Nomad’s inaugural list were chosen because they are a selection of the best of Australia’s boutique vineyards.

Geddes said, “Nomad’s wine list comprises wines that have been ‘grown rather than made’ to show aromatic complexity and flavour detail reflecting their origins and retaining food friendliness. These wines are medium to full bodied with natural acid, moderate alcohol and are food friendly.” www.restaurantnomad.com.au Nomad’s industrial feel is offset by the luxuriousness of its menu Macleay St Bistro is under new management

ICONIC SYDNEY BISTRO GETS NEW OWNERS AND CHEF Sydney restauranteurs Mark Campbell and Phillip Fikkers have taken over the 30 year old dining establishment with plans to maintain the bistro’s classic style dining experience.

New Head Chef, Tom Williams, has worked in Sydney’s top restaurants for over 15 years including Bambini Trust and as part of the team at Tetsuya’s. The classic French and contemporary modern-Australian cuisine is undeniably popular for its depth of flavour and ‘honest’ food including a classic French onion soup with Parmesan croute, the extremely popular steak tartare with crostini, not to mention the magnificent warm salad of duck confit with roasted quince and hazelnuts on poppy seed pain suedois.

The soft refurbishment was designed by prominent Sydney Interior Designer, Brian Hoy, from Brian Hoy Designs. With his contemporary use of top quality materials and finishes, Brian has incorporated a classic Italian marble feature and a new marble wall. www.macleaystbistro.com.au

NAVARRA VENUES CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY backdrop for popular TV shows such as Australia’s Navarra Venues, founders and owners of Next Top Model, Beauty and the Geek and My Sydney’s Conca D’oro, Le Montage, Curzon Kitchen Rules.

Hall and Oatlands House, celebrated their 40th “I believe the secret to our success is employing birthday late last month. passionate, talented staff who provide unrivalled Director of Navarra Venues Giovannino Navarra said his father and Navarra Venues founder Filippo, arrived in Australia from Sicily with a dream of creating experiences which showcased the love and passion for Italian food, wine and unique moments with family and friends.

Navarra said, “It’s incredible to think that 40 years on, my father’s dream has led to the establishment of four awardwinning venues.

“In this time, we have hosted more than 68,000 events, served 17 million drinks and catered for more than 5.6 million people. This includes prime ministers, Curzon Hall celebrities through to providing the 16 Spice

customer experiences, Italian-inspired menus which use local produce and our four unique venues ranging from the grand Georgian mansion Oatlands House, 110 year old Curzon Hall – Sydney’s only castle, Le Montage, an iconic waterfront oasis, through to our founding venue, Tuscan-inspired Conca D’oro.”

Navarra Venues opened its first venue, Conca D’oro in 1973, followed by Le Montage, Curzon Hall and the most recent addition in 2012, Oatlands House.

The business has been the recipient of the 2011 Highly Recommended Australian Achiever Award, the 2010 Australian Business Awards for Service Excellence, and most recently, Curzon Hall won the People’s Choice Award at the Weddings and Events of Australia (WEOA) Awards for Excellence. www.navarravenues.com.au

Boutique Drinks Festival

09–10

FEBRUARY 2014

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MELBOURNE

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Includes a Top Shelf ‘passport’, allowing access to discounted drinks in some of Melbourne’s top bars.

Book your tickets now at www.topshelfshow.com.au Visitors to Top Shelf must be 18 or over.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

SPECIAL EVENT

SHORT BITES

BAR DE HALCYON, PERTH, WA The Northern Spanish bar snack called pintxos (pronounced pin-chos) are the hottest thing since sliced Sonoma sourdough.

This playful dining trend has reached Wolf Lane in Perth where Bar de Halcyon is serving up an arsenal of hot and cold food delights on a stick. And the best part? There is no need to order; patrons take what they please from a selection of 50 varieties and start eating immediately.

Payment is based on an honesty system where sticks are tallied up at the end of the meal.

The two-storey venue features Moira de la Hunty artworks, locally made furniture from industrial designer Chris Maple and sawn timber table tops sourced from the historic Bunbury Jetty. www.bardehalcyon.com.au The dining room at Flanagan’s is beautifully beachy

FLANAGANS DINING ROOM, THIRROUL, NSW

KWENCHER New Aussie beer label Kwencher may have only hit the shelves 18 months ago but it’s already been awarded the best pale ale in Australasia at the 2013 Asia Beer Awards in Singapore in June.

The all-natural, preservative-free brew was inspired by a trip to Morocco where Kwencher founders David Burns and Elly Meltzer drank loads of peach iced tea and local beer. The experience planted the seeds of what was to become the brand’s two lines: Clingstone Peach and Darjeeling Tea Lager and Kwencher Pale Ale. Produced in Geelong, Victoria, Kwencher is made from a unique recipe that combines the sweet aroma of passionfruit and flavour from the Yarra Valley hops. Its smooth, refreshing taste has a broad appeal to both men and women alike and will make a surprising addition to a beverage list during the summer months.

The Kwencher brand is available at liquor stores throughout Victoria and online nationally at www.beerstore.com.au For more information including prices and stockists visit www.kwencher.com.au 18 Spice

Located right on the beach at Thirroul just north of Wollongong, Flanagans is an ideal summer hangout for groups of up to 40 people inside or 80 using both indoor and outdoor spaces. The heritage listed building has been decked out with a fresh new Hamptons-inspired interior that is light and airy and offers a menu that is loaded with localseafood, produce, ciders, beers and wines.

Rattling pans is owner and fish connoisseur John Connolly alongside former Efendy Chef Arman Uz who gives the menu a Turkish flavour.

The venue is perfect for small weddings, milestone events and drive days that take in the new stretch of the Grand Pacific Drive that wends its way down the coast. Just 1.5 hours from Sydney, Flanagans is an ideal distance to test the throttle without wearing out the tyres. www.flanagansdiningroom.com.au

RED LANTERN LAUNCHES COOKING CLASSES Learn the secrets of Vietnamese cookery from Red Lantern’s Executive Chef Mark Jensen (with the occasional guest appearance from Luke Nguyen) in the new venue on Riley St in Sydney’s Darlinghurst.

Apprentice Chefs will learn to make a selection of Red Lantern’s famous dishes, as well as iconic Vietnamese favourites, in a hands-on environment.

Running Sunday - Monday for groups of 8-20 or Tuesday - Friday for groups of 8-10, participants then sit-down to eat their classwork, along with matched wines. www.redlantern.com.au

The dining room at Red Lantern on Riley Street

Beer & Cider

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TEAMBUILDING

OUTSIDE THE SQUARE

Think you’ve been there, done that with teambuilding? Think again. Some of Australia’s most innovative companies are serving up new and challenging ways to bond.

WORLD EXPEDITIONS LAUNCHES LARAPINTA TRAIL CAMPSITES

E

ver since the release of the Martin Sheen film The Way featuring the El Camino in Spain, multi-day hikes have taken off as teambuilding events.

Fortunately for the less adventurous among us, Australian adventure travel company World Expeditions has come up with a way to make the Larapinta Trail in the West Macdonnell Ranges near Alice Springs more appealing.

The company has introduced architecturallydesigned, semi-permanent campsites on the remote trail so that trekkers can have a soft landing.

World Expeditions General Manager Domestic Chris Buykx said, “The new structures are attractive, practical and comfortable and we believe set a new benchmark with group trekking. Combined with the new composting toilets and hot water showers, we are confident our accommodation is second to none on the trail.”

Adventure teambuilding company 3BL founder and director Ruth Nissum said, “The trekking was tough but it offered an opportunity for participants to push themselves and achieve something different. The lack of phone and internet was a real

SONG DIVISION INSPIRES SIR RICHARD TO CROWDSURF When the team from Song Division were asked to pitch for a welcome gig for Richard Branson, they never imagined that the anointed British knight would jump into the crowd of 1500 Virgin Australia staff.

Song Division Creative Director Sam McNeil said, “The brief was basically to create something more memorable than the usual welcome event. Richard Branson normally shows up and speaks for about 30 minutes and that’s that. The crew in Brisbane wanted to do something bigger and better.”

Song Division came up with the idea for an online campaign where all of the Virgin Australia staff were invited to submit a four line poem on what they love about working for Virgin. The people whose lines were chosen were given the opportunity to get up close and personal with Richard Branson and have their words immortalised in the Virgin Australia song.

Once all the entries were in, Song Division 20 Spice

One of the low-impact campsites on the Larapinta Trail

novelty and the consequent ‘silence’ created a great environment for listening to each other. It impacted the group dynamic also, as participants within the group were able to see each other in a different light, recognising talents that may not have been apparent previously.”

The Larapinta Trail is a three day hike that begins on day one with the Telegraph Station

to Charles Creek, Simpsons Gap and Standley Chasm Loop Walk (12km), day two with the Serpentine Gorge to Countts Point and Serpentine Bush Camp (18km) and finishing with day three’s walk to the Ochre Pits (7km), Ormiston Gorge and then returning to Alice Springs. www.worldexpeditions.com

Sir Richard rocks out with his Brisbane crew

picked out the best poems, mashed them up and recorded the song in the studio.

The song was then emailed out to all the invitees so that they could learn the words beforehand.

When the day of the event came around, everyone showed up half an hour early for a singing and choreography rehearsal so that they would be pitch perfect in time for Branson’s arrival.

What they didn’t anticipate was that Branson would be so swept up in the moment that he would launch himself into the crowd and later go on to blog about the experience. In terms of an endorsement, it doesn’t get much bigger than that. www.virgin.com/richard-branson/are-youready-to-rock-the-sky

TEAMBUILDING

VICTORSFOOD SHAKES THINGS UP WITH SANITARIUM The world has food technologists to thank for things like Pop Rocks but even the wackiest scientists run out of creative steam sometimes.

Enter: VictorsFood. Cereal manufacturing giant Sanitarium called on the talented team to design a program to inspire their research and development boffins to come up with new ideas for a beverage range.

The result? A four hour, hands-on mocktail-making workshop that highlighted unique combinations (cherry and chilli) and flipped contextual ideas around sweet and savoury (guacamole, salsa and chips in a drink). The participants worked their way through six recipes and then finished up the session by coming up with something of their own.

Principal scientist Heather Riley said, “With new

creative challenges ahead, we wanted our teams to rise to new levels of innovation. The theme of innovation was carried through the workshop allowing us to not only have a fun time on the day, but take these energy levels and ideas and bring them back into the workplace.

Everyone had a wonderful experience - even the people that were not keen on attending originally. ”

The Sanitarium food scientists had a blast making mocktails

LUNA PARK SYDNEY LAUNCHES CONEY ISLAND CHALLENGE The Coney Island Challenge at Luna Park has a strong focus on communication, team work and fun.

Teams compete against each other (and the clock) in a series of challenges found within the original 1930s funhouse, Coney Island. Under the watchful eye of a professional facilitator, the ultimate victors will emerge as the team who demonstrates the greatest skill and commitment across each of the challenges.

Being a relay challenge, teams must work together to maximise their points in a series of exciting, fun-filled ‘stations’ throughout Coney Island. Groups of up to 200 guests can be accommodated at any one time.

Luna Park Sydney’s Coney Island Challenge brings out everyone’s inner-child

THRILL Adventures director Konrad Lippmann shares his tips for staying ahead of the curve with teambuilding trends: 1. Look to America. They are always innovating in the teambuilding space.

2. Find out what’s happening in reality TV. From Survivor and Amazing Race to MasterChef and The Mole, a lot of companies wish to emulate the experiences they see on screen.

3. Evolve concepts that have worked in the past. Teambuilding seems to run on a two year cycle so look at what’s worked over the past couple of years and find ways to adjust or update these concepts.

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ADRENALINE ACTIVITIES

AUDI ICE EXPERIENCE IN QUEENSTOWN, NZ

Heli-rafting in New Zealand

T

hink you could be the next Stig? There’s only one way to find out: Audi’s ice driving day near Queenstown.

Sharpen your skills on compacted snow and ice test tracks under the guidance of a qualified Audi driving instructor. Steer, counter steer, stabilise, and drift on ice. Master different driving challenges including oversteer and understeer, ABS braking, lane changing and compete in a timed slalom. www.audi.co.nz

HELI-RAFTING IN QUEENSTOWN, NZ

HEART STARTERS

From ice driving in New Zealand to learning how to perform Hollywood stunts, there are plenty of things you can do for a fun freak out. Here are some of Spice’s favourite adrenaline activities.

Have you ever stood in a outdoors shop and watched the videos where people do extreme things in snow, water and wind? Welcome to the next evolution in extreme: heli-rafting.

Fly over the ‘putting in’ point of the Shotover or Kawarau River in a twin engine chopper and check out the white water rapids you’re about to raft down. The Shotover features grade 3-5 rapids and the Kawarau has grade 2-3 rapids (grade 6 is the hardest) so there is a hard and easy option but both are bound to get your heart racing and your backside wet. www.queenstownrafting.co.nz

SWIMMING WITH CROCODILES IN DARWIN, NT It will be pretty hard to stop smiling after you’ve survived the new ‘Cage of Death’ experience at Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin.

A purpose built acrylic cage is lowered from an overhead monorail into any of the four separate croc enclosures for an up close and personal dive encounter with the park’s massive saltwater crocodiles. The best thing is that the tanks are transparent so other members of the group can watch from the other side of the safety glass. www.crocosauruscove.com

ZORBING ON THE GOLD COAST, QLD Ever wondered what it would be like to be stuck in the middle of a 3½ metre PVC ball and rolled down a hill? Well, someone, somewhere did and thus, zorbing was born.

You can choose between the harness zorb (when you are strapped to the inside of the ball) and the hydro zorb (leaving you free in the middle of the ball with 40lt of water). Completely ridiculous and, by all accounts, ridiculously fun.

Crocosaurus Cove Cage of Death

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www.racq.com.au

for 2014

s

Australia & New Zealand Representative Jackie Caldwell, Business Development Director Tel/Fax: +613 9885 6932 Mobile : +61 (0) 403 892 289 Email: jackie@myceb.com.my

ADRENALINE ACTIVITIES

courses for amateurs to dip their (unbroken) toes into the world of Hollywood-style stage combat, swordplay, flying on wires and commando style obstacle course stunts. The instructors are world class stunt performers and athletes who will make sure your bones stay intact while you fling yourself into fake battle. www.stuntacademy.com

FLYBOARDING AT PALM COVE BEACH, QLD Fly like a hydro powered eagle! Flyboarding is a new extreme sport that combines jet skiing, water skiing, wakeboarding, skiing, snowboarding and diving. Thrill seekers are harnessed into boot bindings, fixed to a wakeboard, and use their feet to steer and control the movement of the board above the surface of the water.

Depending on the rider’s ability, dolphin dives and aerial stunts can be taught during a single flyboarding lesson. Fear not, the experience is said to be intuitive, with most riders independently flying in just 20 minutes. www.flyboardcairns.com.au

LUNA PARK SYDNEY OLYMPICS The Luna Park Olympics program is an adrenaline-filled, teamed, relay-style race against the clocks throughout the park. Administered by the Luna Park team, guests race around the park trying to complete the task at hand; going on all rides in a designated amount of time while trying to complete a scavenger hunt.

Within the specified amount of time, guests zoom around Luna Park, going on all or a specified amount of rides and answer a fun set of quiz questions. The victors will be the team that used their wit to successfully complete the task before the other teams.

Stunt Academy sword play

JETPACK EXPERIENCE IN SYDNEY, NSW Anyone who has ever read a comic has wondered what it would be like to fly. All those children of Marvel and MAD can now indulge their dream with a Jetpack experience.

You simply strap a water jet pack to your back and with a little expert instruction, off you go. The force of thousands of litres of water propels you upwards, with the ability to steer yourself, walk on water, and even try some more advanced moves if you’re feeling confident. www.experienceoz.com.au

STUNT ACADEMY AT MAIN BEACH, QLD Ever thought you could bust out a few moves like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible? Kung Fu your way through Chinatown or sword fight your way out of a sticky mediaeval situation.

Stunt Academy runs half day and full day 24 Spice

Luna Park Sydney Olympics have some unconventional ‘sports’

ADRENALINE ACTIVITIES

AND FOR THE TRULY INSANE THERE’S… VOLCANO BOARDING IN NICARAGUA Cerro Negro aka ‘black mountain’ in Nicaragua is the location for this entirely stupendous activity that involves a 45 minute climb to the top of an extinct volcano, a bit of peering into the crater and looking at the view, followed by a touch of careening back down the mountainside on a board at speeds of up to 89km per hour. www.bigfoothostel.com

MOUNTAIN TUBING IN KAUAI, HAWAII When most people think about Hawaii, the first things that springs to mind are Mai Tais, surfing or honeymoons but this idyllic island group has long been in the business of thrilling visitors with live lava flows, ziplining and shark dives.

The latest thing is Hawaii’s box of tricks is mountain tubing.

Over a century ago, labourers hired by the Lihue Sugar Plantation hand built the Hanamaulu ditch system. This series of canals and tunnels was designed to bring water from the waterfalls and streams of Mt. Waialeale to provide irrigation for the large sugar cane fields in and around Lihue.

Volcano boarding in Nicaragua

Although the Lihue Sugar Plantation has since closed down, these amazing waterways are still here and have adopted a new life as mountain tubing routes.

The gentle flow of water offers a fun and relaxing ride through mountainside flumes and

tunnels that emerge to stunning views of beautiful and remote locations. Be sure to bring sunscreen, insect repellent, water friendly shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting wet. www.kauaibackcountry.com

For more information: Luna Park Venues 1 Olympic Drive Milsons Point NSW 2061

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CITY HOTSPOTS

GEELONG

Just one hour from Melbourne’s CBD and located on one of the most iconic stretches of coastline in Australia, Geelong offers seaside ease on one side, country calm on the other and metropolitan levels of service and infrastructure.

Four Points by Sheraton Geelong a drive day dream Located on the water, the Four Points by Sheraton Geelong is fast becoming the venue of choice for automotive companies wanting to combine the convenience of full service conferencing facilities, outdoor display space and an unparalleled driving experience thanks to its proximity to the Great Ocean Road and testing grounds at Anglesea and Lara.

It’s also just 25 minutes to The Australian Automotive Research Centre (AARC) which offers an extensive range of automotive engineering services to all vehicle and component manufacturers. AARC occupies a 1000 hectare site near Anglesea and is the largest privately owned and independently operated automotive testing facility in Australia.

The park in front of the property provides an additional space for displaying vehicles

The Hill Winery taken over

by Scotchman’s Hill

The Hill Room seats 180 people

Taken over last year by the team from Scotchman’s Hill, The Hill Winery has welcomed Peter Rowland Catering to look after the café kitchen and event catering.

With a full-time in-house Chef and a network of local suppliers, the new menu focuses heavily on seasonal, local produce and shared plates and pizzas that can be enjoyed with the wines.

With Scotchman’s Hill wines from the Bellarine Peninsula available for tasting, the Hill winery is still active in bottling onsite.

Key varietals on the tasting bench the wildly popular Moscato, a lightly oaked Chardonnay, Shiraz and Pinot Noir, as well as the Hill Reserve bottles that are only available at the cellar door.

The Hill has two function spaces; the more

formal Hill Room that seats 180 or the cellar door and café with a more industrial vibe that seats up to 300.

The Hill Winery Event Planner Beth Colbert said, “We are just 15 minutes from Geelong and 15 minutes from Torquay which makes us an ideal venue for private meetings and also weddings because of the proximity to accommodation. People come out here and feel like they’re in country; it’s so secluded and overlooks the Barabool Hills.

We’re getting a lot of weddings where the whole thing is onsite with couples getting married in the olive grove out the back.”

Throughout the year, The Hill also hosts Day on the Green concerts for 15,000 people.

The next show scheduled is Leonard Cohen on December 7th.

Peppers The Sands Resort Torquay become holy hosts Staff at The Sands were on their best behaviour when Archbishop Denis Hart and 120 priests from the Archdiocese of Melbourne arrived in reception for the recent ‘Ministry to Priest’ conference.

The conference theme was ‘Exile: A Paradox’, a topic that explored the Church being in a type of Exile in terms of dislocation from a former position of relevance, respectability and voice in society, as well as recovery, rebuilding, hope and homecoming from exile. This year the guest speakers were: Rev Dr David Ranson, Rev Dr John Hill, Francis Sullivan and Cherie Mangrai.

Peppers The Sands Resort Torquay Event Sales Manager Ebony Kirk said, “It was one of our favourite events of the year. Many of the priests had never stayed in a hotel and over half of them were born overseas so it was a really interesting group. The housekeepers said they were a dream group because they all made their own beds and put their rubbish in the bin.”

The property was able to accommodate their special needs by making space available for a one hour mass every morning.

The Sands Resort has the largest function space in Torquay and can host up to 300 people for conferences and 400 for sit-down dinners. With The Golf Retreat across the road, guests at The Sands also have access to an 18-hole championship private golf course.

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Archbishop Denis Hart with Peppers The Sands Torquay staff Sarah Foster and David Bartlett

Enjoy the finer things when conferencing in Geelong and the Great Ocean Road

Victoria’s No.1 Regional Destination for business events

Conferencing isn’t just about seeing the inside of a boardroom, it’s about getting out and experiencing your surroundings.

Peppers The Sands Resort

If you’re planning an event, why not add some fun and frivolity into your plans and incorporate some exceptional food experiences and a visit to some world-class wineries.

Easily accessible from Melbourne and well serviced by Avalon Airport, the region boasts a multitude of quality meeting venues, from largescale resorts packed with leisure facilities to smaller boutique properties located at some of the region’s most scenic locations.

Torquay plays host to Peppers The Sands Resort which offers a choice of 112 accommodation rooms and suites all with private balconies or grassed terraces, complemented by meeting facilities that can accommodate up to 580 delegates and an 18-hole private championship golf course.

Peppers The Sands Resort combines premium service with breathtaking views and a range of on-site leisure activities to help delegates unwind.

Four Points By Sheraton Geelong

Make sure you ask about their unique team building experience; the golf cart rally that takes place on the championship golf course, which is ranked in the top 100 courses in Australia – it’s sure to leave a lasting impression.

Nearby, Geelong offers conference-goers all the amenities of a big city, minus the hassle. You’re spoilt for choice on Geelong’s buzzing waterfront, packed with outstanding dining options, numerous leisure activities and wineries located nearby in the surrounding region, this compact regional city provides the perfect mix of business and leisure.

Here, the ideally located Four Points by Sheraton Geelong has fabulous bay views, an indoor pool, a dedicated function level with a choice of 5 meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 250 delegates and 109 premium guest rooms, all with private balconies.

Whether it’s a meeting, conference, exhibition, or simply private dining you’ll always host an event to remember at the Four Points By Sheraton Geelong.

Just out of Geelong is The Hill Winery, a stunning new conference venue overlooking acres of vineyards.

The Hill Winery offers several function spaces and on-site team building activities such as wine masterclasses. It is easily accessed from Torquay or Geelong and an easy drive from Melbourne via the freeway and Geelong ringroad.

The Hill Winery

When conferencing in Geelong and on the Great Ocean Road you can enjoy the finer things in life, great food, excellent wine and a host of other activities.

Look no further than Geelong, and the Great Ocean Road for your next conference, incentive or exhibition and Business Events Geelong can help facilitate with ease.

F For more information on:

Peppers The Sands Resort - www.peppers.com.au/sands Four Points By Sheraton Geelong - www.fourpointsgeelong.com The Hill Winery - www.peterrowland.com.au/venues/the-hill-winery

Discover more at www.businesseventsgeelong.com.au

CITY HOTSPOTS

PORT STEPHENS, NEWCASTLE AND HUNTER VALLEY Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley adds conference centre The impending construction of the Hunter Valley’s first conference centre and an on-site brewery and distillery is set to make Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley a major contender in the competition for regional conferencing.

The Schwartz Family Company is investing $5.5 million into a 300 square metre brewery, micro distillery and cellar door that will be part of the hotel’s main complex in order to boost its appeal to groups that want to stay onsite for the duration of the conference.

An extension of the hotel’s Grapevine Bar and Restaurant is also in the mix that will provide a great space for delegates to gather after a busy day conferencing to unwind and network. All of the upgrades are scheduled for completion by the end of 2014.

An artist’s impression of the new conference centre

Newcastle gets crafty with beer

Reserve Wine Bar opens in Newcastle Reserve Wine Bar has opened its doors in Newcastle, bringing a top-notch wine experience to the city.

A collaboration between local businessmen Tim Bohlsen, Justin Oliver and wine journalist Patrick Haddock, Reserve Wine Bar sits on the corner of Hunter and Bolton Streets in the historic ANZ bank building, right in the heart of the revitalised and bustling dining precinct.

Co-owner Patrick Haddock said Reserve’s wine list and menu will have a strong focus on local producers, giving it a distinct Hunter region flavour.

Haddock said, “Reserve is going to bring a very exciting depth of wine offering to a city that up until now has been bereft of good options for wine drinkers.

“Our wine list has a real focus on Australian wine in all its glory, with 70 New South Wales wines and 175 Australian wines on the list all up. A quarter of our list does feature imports as there is always a need for them, but my focus is to put Australian wine first.”

Haddock said that despite the trend towards wine from overseas, Australian drinkers are some of the luckiest in the world, with a wealth of styles to choose from, something he intends to showcase at Reserve Wine Bar. 28 Spice

The only steel you’ll see in this city these days is sitting on a napkin next to your plate. Newcastle, Australia’s largest regional city, has reinvented itself as a beer lover’s mecca.

In the same way hipsters seem to be popping up everywhere, so too are the spoils of their patronage; craft breweries and fancy pants places to buy a burger. Take, for example, Craft & Co Burgers on the harbour Foreshore. Sample more than 25 varieties of craft beer, or take your pick from the diverse range of wines and ciders whether your burger craving hits at midday, or midnight.

Still thirsty? Head to The Grain Store Craft Beer Café that sits in a restored warehouse in Newcastle’s East End food and café precinct. Oozing character and style with soaring ceilings, Art Deco décor and rustic timber floors, this was the original grain and keg storage facility for Tooheys’ Newcastle Depot. With 21 beers on tap, a glorious hidden outdoor courtyard and a casual all-day menu with plenty of plates to share over a pint, the Grain Store has quickly made its mark.

Another top spot to share a drink – and a bite – is the James Squire beerthemed venue, The Squires Maiden, that serves contemporary and classic dishes to wash down with an exceptional range of authentic craft beers, often while enjoying live entertainment.

CITY HOTSPOTS

Port Stephens welcomes new MICE products A luxury catamaran, overnight fishing expeditions and a no-suit bush retreat are the newest additions to the newly created MICE Port Stephens portfolio.

Cruise operators Moonshadow Cruises have introduced a new, luxury 15m catamaran that is available for private charter for up to 49 people. Moonshadow Odyssey offers groups breakfast, lunch, cocktail or dinner cruises with dolphin watching all year ‘round and whale watching available from June to November.

44 year veteran of regional tourism, Tamboi Queen Cruises, have launched a new overnight extended fishing charter adventure aimed at The Retreat Port Stephens

anglers chasing game fish like marlin, mahi mahi, snapper, jewfish and kingfish. Groups of up to six people fish off a custom-built catamaran with the full sonar and 3D cartography fit out and then sleep and dine on the 18m ‘mother ship’ that is anchored in a cove off Broughton Island.

For corporate groups that want to de-suit in a relaxed bush setting, The Retreat Port Stephens offers a function space, self-contained cabins, a pool, open spaces and camp fires for groups of up to 60 guests.

In a surprise bonus, the retreat backs onto the biggest sand dunes in Australia with dune sliding, camel walks and quad bikes tours within easy reach.

Tamboi Queen Cruises fishing charter guest

The Odyssey is operated

by Moonshadow Cruises

Spoilt for choice at...

14,000 sq m of infinitely flexible event space at Sydney’s most unique and versatile venue.

The Exhibition Hall This heritage listed 6800 m2 space is home to a diverse range of events - from large scale exhibitions, fashion events, celebrations and grand weddings.

The Dining Room Sensitive design contrasts existing timber features with state of the art dynamic lighting technology on huge 7m x 4m backlit panels. The result, a great sense of scale with endless creative presentation and lighting options.

Visit us at AIME on stand 1522

www.atpcc.com.au For more information contact Ruby Chronis, Director Sales & Marketing Henderson Road, Sydney South, NSW 1430 Enquiries: 61 2 9209 4429 sales@atp.com.au

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Sound Campaign’s Jack Daniels Barrel Room

LET’S GO OUTSIDE SOUND CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES JACK DANIEL’S BARREL ROOM

A

tour around the barrel houses of Lynchburg, Tennessee was the inspiration for the Sound Campaign’s latest festival activation.

Sound Campaign founding partner Jason Fielding said, “Jack Daniel’s brand manager Natalie Accari and I looked at over 100 barrel houses in the state of Tennessee when we were trying to come up with ideas for the Barrel Room. The real barrel houses are about seven stories high but the one we built has authentic details but it’s much smaller.

The Barrel Room, that fits 350 people on the floor and 50 people on the mezzanine, has a genuine barrel wall, a barrel charring station behind the bar and can be air conditioned.

Australian Garden Show landscaping exhibit

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The Jack Daniel’s Barrel Room debuted at Future Music Festival and Summer Field Dayze and took three days to build and two days to take down.

AUSTRALIAN GARDEN SHOW SYDNEY The first ever Australian Garden Show Sydney bloomed in Sydney’s Centennial Park in September 2013, celebrating Australia’s love of gardening and outdoor spaces.

Featuring the best local and international garden designers, speakers and retail products, it set a new standard for horticultural events in the region.

This year’s four-day event attracted over 25,000 people making it a huge success as a new event.

The event will be back once again in the early Spring of 2014, with dates to be announced shortly.

SKY TERRACE OPENS AND PARTNERS WITH SYDNEY FESTIVAL Sky Terrace, The Star’s recently launched rooftop bar, will open every Friday and Saturday evening from early November 2013 until Sydney Festival kicks off on 9 January 2014 when it will open every evening.

The new venue features a variety of pop up food stations serving Wagyu beef sliders, chicken satay, southern BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, vegetarian options and Movenpick ice cream. The Star is offering guests one free drink upon arrival, including house wine, beer, spirit or soft drink.

The Star will also provide free transfers from the CBD on Friday nights.

As a proud sponsor and principal partner of Sydney Festival, The Star’s Sky Terrace will be the

OUTDOOR EVENTS

AGL’s Macathur wind farm activation

official Festival Bar for the 2014 Sydney Festival season, 9 – 26 January 2014.

In addition, Sky Terrace will be available for private hire upon application, outside of festival season.

MACARTHUR WIND FARM OPENING This Space Events in collaboration with Pages Event Equipment delivered a 15m X 15m structure with clear gables and hard walling for the official opening of the Macarthur Wind Farm in regional Victoria opened by the Victorian Minister, now Premier, Denis Napthine. The Macarthur Wind Farm is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere and is jointly owned by AGL Energy Limited (AGL) and Malakoff Corporation Berhad and operated by AGL and has been fully operational since late January 2013.

Pages and This Space Events have collaborated on many regional events for AGL and have delivered launch events in some of the most challenging and remote locations and difficult terrain in Australia. Macarthur was no exception being a true green field site the structure and infrastructure from power to portable kitchens, bathrooms to no water connections required meticulous planning and preparation.

Geoff Yallop from Pages said, “The site by its nature was extremely windy and the structure was designed to ensure wind impacts were mitigated whilst ensuring the position of the marquee could take in the magnificent view over the AGL Wind Farm.”

This Space Events, Pages Event Equipment and the client AGL paid particular attention in the preproduction of the event to ensure that multiple local accommodation sites were utilised, engaging a local caterer for all food and beverage including all crew meals, local labour during construction phase, local hire equipment for infrastructure requirements and local transport provider were all contracted ensuring that local businesses all benefited from the event experience. This has always been a particular focus for AGL. This Space Events creative director Julia Barnard said, “Sustainable event delivery, sourcing locally and responsible recycling and waste management are our strong focus on all events we deliver.

Remote locations are always a challenge so it

is imperative that pre-planning, extensive site inspections with all suppliers and your client are undertaken prior to event delivery. Just some of the challenges you need to think through that are particular to regional event delivery is to consider extreme weather scenarios. One minute your location can be dry and the next flash flooding can be upon you, so ensure your location has multiple access points, that you have a clear emergency plan and you discuss all contingency and emergency planning with the local authorities.”

32 HUNDRED LIGHTING CREATES WORLD’S LARGEST ‘REAL TIME INTERACTIVE SHOW’ The lighting of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the highlight of this year’s Vivid Sydney, was the brainchild of creative innovator Iain Reed, founder of 32 Hundred Lighting.

Reed spent six years thinking about how to shine a spotlight on the bridge; three of which were spent lobbying the get the idea off the ground for the annual Vivid Festival.

The software and build took three months to complete and in the weeks leading up to Vivid, Reed and a crew of ten, worked night and day

to lay multiple kilometres of cable, more than 100,000 low energy LED lights and 140 custom made high powered LED par can lights.

With software developed by 32 Hundred Lighting, the public were able to paint the bridge to their own creative design, on an interactive screen located at Luna Park.

Each installation came with its own set of logistical difficulties but the scale of the Vivid light-up, together with the interactivity, was by far Iain’s most challenging, requiring 2000 programmable LED batons, LED colour washes and intelligent moving lights. All of these colours played across the bridge like a piece of music.

The technology allowed people using the interactive LED screen at Luna Park to choose from a variety of effects, palettes and movements to create a two minute play of colours across the bridge Reed said, “The Bridge is such an amazingly beautiful structure both from the outside and the inside. I wanted people to have the chance to play with its appearance, to turn it into a kind of fairy tale. The joy it brought to people and the conversation it generated were the biggest wins for us.”

Some of the hardware required for 32 Hundred’s installation is as follows: • More than 100,000 individual, energy efficient programmable LED lights. These were contained in 2,000, 1 metre long LED tubes – making up 2 kilometres of LED tubes • 140 custom made high powered LED par can lights • Just under 1 kilometre of military-grade, tactical fibre optic network cable • 8.5 kilometres of Cat 6 cable • 14 x Gigabyte network switches • 3.5 kilometres of Cee Form power cable • 14 custom made Cee Form distribution units • 1 kilometre of three phase cable • 20,000 cable ties • 10 crew members per shift, using 12 custom made quivers (special backpacks designed to carry the LED tubes) to get the tubes into place.

32 Hundred’s Harbour Bridge Vivid Festival light installation

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TECH NEWS Whether you’re a gadget geek or a total newbie, tech is becoming a critical component of a successful event. Read on for everything you need to know about cool, new tech stuff.

DISCGO CHARGERS AVAILABLE TO HIRE FOR EVENTS Discgo portable phone chargers and charge booths are now available for hire for trade shows and conventions.

Originally designed for bars and cafes, Discgo Chargers allow people to charge their phones on the go by either plugging their phone into the portable device or hooking up to one of the charging stations at the manned booths.

Brands can also hire Discgo units for their stands to attract more visitors to the stand and increase dwell time. Hire prices start from $300.

Discgo Charger MD Sean Brandtman believes that offering the service means that you are giving users one less thing to worry about while promoting brand awareness. Brandtman said, “Keeping attendees charged enables event organisers to hold promotions and competitions during the event as well as engage in social media.

“Discgo can also be used as a marketing tool for event organisers via co-branding on the units themselves. It’s an extra added value that event organisers can give their attendees.” www.discgocharger.com

FOGSCREEN PROJECTION SCREENS CREATE ‘WALK THROUGH MAGIC’

IML EXPANDS ITS PRODUCT RANGE WITH THE LAUNCH OF JOIN IN

Spice is in love with FogScreen’s patented technology that turns tap water and ultrasonic waves into a ‘virtual’ projection screen that appears to float in the air. FogScreen is so dry you can stand in it, touch it or even walk right through it. The key to tailoring the Fogscreen to your event lies in what you project onto the mist. You could do fish, fire, a waterfall, outer space; the list of options is as endless as ideas for themes but Spice guarantees that guests will be enraptured.

The recent combination of audience insight specialists IML and Lumi Mobile has developed Join In - a new live and self-paced mobile product to encourage audience interaction and engagement. There are two parts to the new technology: Join in Live and Join In Sight.

Join In Live features intelligent instant polling, multi-mode attendee messaging, content management and note-taking that caters to both large ‘produced’ events as well as smaller, everyday meetings.

Join In Sight offers users a communication platform to submit opinions, thoughts and comments. Requiring no internet connectivity, engagement and learning can take place anywhere and at any time, not just in the meeting room. Join In Sight features GPS location and validation, multimedia capture, content dissemination, barcode scanning and advanced tracking both at your event and beyond. Typical examples of use include training programmes, testing and certification, research, workshops, breakout sessions, exhibitions and ongoing stakeholder engagement.

www.fogscreenaustralia.com.au

www.imlworldwide.com 32 Spice

TECH NEWS

VIDEOKIOSKS AND VIDEOBOOTHS NOW TAKE PHOTOS AND PERFORM SOCIAL SHARING Vizi New Media’s VideoKiosks and VideoBooths not only record delegate and guest feedback for posterity; they now take photos and enable social media sharing, all from one handy unit. There are three ways users can share content from events; by simply entering their email address into the booth (and that of their friends if they so wish) and their videos and photos are emailed through to them in a link, by sharing the link on Facebook within a branded post (logos of sponsors can be integrated) or finally as a direct post of the video or photo onto Facebook. www.vizinewmedia.com.au

EVENTSTAGRAM ADDS A LIVE VISUAL ELEMENT Live Twitter feed not engaging anymore?

Try a live Instagram feed at your next conference with Eventstagram. There are four tiers of pricing – the first of which is free – for you to register and start playing with the site’s tools. All you need for the software to capture your delegates’ Instagram posts is for them to use the correct assigned hashtag ie #EventCon2013. If you wish to upgrade to a priced package, you can start using branded templates, capture up to 10,000 photos, moderate the photos by banning and approving and play the feed for up to 24 hours. www.eventstagr.am

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THE 2013 IT LIST TOGA’S NIGHT TO SHINE A Night to Shine is Toga Hotels’ annual black tie awards event that recognises excellence amongst its global hotel managers, sales team and senior head office team members.

Held at Fairground Follies in Sydney in August, this year’s theme was vintage carnival.

Toga Hotels’ Communications Manager Janelle Neeve said, “We chose it because it evokes such a happy feeling when you enter and encounter the spinning antique carousel, the circus calliopes, and restored antique organ, all under a cloud of twinkling fairy lights.”

On the afternoon before the event, award nominees received an enormous (1kg) block of chocolate as a teaser, ensuring that everyone was nicely sugared up before they arrived on the red carpet to a Champagne welcome. Walking through heavy red velvet curtains, the guests then entered a huge room filled with a carousel, circus sideshows, trapeze artists and soaring silver stilt-walkers.

To extend the theme, there was a photo booth stocked with circus props for guests to play with and the fairground extravaganza was topped off with showground treats – warm cinnamon doughnuts, toffee popcorn, and candy floss for dessert.

Models paraded the exclusive ‘Vault Collection’ to VIP guests including Hardy Brothers general manager Clifford Stockley, chief financial officer Lee Driscoll, The Governor of NSW, Her Excellency, Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO and Kate Waterhouse, Geoff Huegill, Deborah Hutton, Samantha Armytage and Kylie Gillies.

Event Planet managing director Amy Merriman said, “The launch of the Hardy Brothers Vault Collection and 160 year celebration called for a unique and memorable guest experience with the idea of an elegant dinner in a vault being the easy part. Careful planning and pre-production were crucial to manage the challenges of working in a real vault that had never held an event. These challenges included escort security for all suppliers, catering for 40 guests underground, setting up an elegant dining table within one hour once access to the vault was permitted and manag-

EVENT PLANET’S HARDY BROTHERS 160TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION On July 18, Event Planet provided 40 exclusive guests with a unique dining experience hidden deep within Guardian Vaults Sydney. Candlelight flickered on the long dining table, set with an abundance of orchids, hyacinths, lisianthus and sweetpeas from Samambaia arranged in Waterford Crystal.

The Caterer produced a beautiful menu that included pistachio crusted lamb tenderloin, cauliflower puree, asparagus and lamb reduction, roasted heirloom carrots with cumin and honey on the table, Belgian chocolate mousse with caramelised winter oranges and miniature handmade Italian doughnuts filled with lemon cream.

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Hardy Brothers event in a vault

ing guests through high security zones into the vault. The result was stunning and the unexpected setting brought gasps of delight from guests who delighted in the unique experience.”

BILL GATES Q&A AT UNSW On the 25th May this year, Bill Gates guest starred in an ABC Q&A taping that took place at the Sir John Clancy Auditorium at the University of New South Wales (UNSW).

For those who are unfamiliar with the show, host Tony Jones fields questions from audience members about anything from politics to religion to pop culture.

The Bill Gates Q&A was unusual in the sense that Bill appeared as a solo panellist. The wide range of topics covered were philanthropy, polio, malaria, Australian aid, the ‘cult of greed’ tax dodgers, being an introvert and teenage geek,

Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Melbourne, Australia 18–19 February 2014 | aime.com.au

AIME. FoR A FIvE sTAR EvEnT If your job responsibility includes organising travel, planning meetings, staff incentives and events, or sourcing venues and hotels, you could be a Hosted Buyer at AIME, the largest international business events exhibition in Australia. Anyone is welcome to apply to be a Hosted Buyer, and if accepted, you will receive vIP benefits to attend this two day exhibition, such as complimentary return flights and accommodation in Melbourne, Australia and a personalised appointment schedule to meet with exhibitors.

Apply to be a Hosted Buyer today at aime.com.au/apply 99% of Hosted Buyers surveyed at AIME 2013 agreed AIME was a good use of time for their business

Meet with 750 exhibitors from 5 continents

Anyone is welcome to apply to be a Hosted Buyer at aime.com.au/apply AIME Is PART oF THE REEd TRAvEl ExHIBITIons MEETInGs, EvEnTs And BusInEss TRAvEl IndusTRy PoRTFolIo

AFRICA 28-30 April CapeTown, South Africa ●

AIME Is ownEd By MCB

AIME Is MAnAGEd By RTE

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affordable medicine and patents, ethical investment, global warming, condoms, US healthcare, robots, artificial intelligence and inheritance. This was a one-off special presentation with around 900 people in the audience.

Gates was in Australia for a total of 14 hours, primarily to speak to Government and Opposition Leaders about the importance of continuing Australia’s engagement in foreign aid programs.

Whilst here, he took time out to be a special guest in a dynamic forum that included in the audience UNSW Students, staff and alumni, supplemented by school students and health industry professionals from the broader Sydney community. Special guests included UNSW Premier Barry O’Farrell, UNSW Chancellor David Gonski and Vice-Chancellor Fred Hilmer.

Discussion was mediated by host Tony Jones, host of the ABC’s Q&A program. It was taped in the afternoon and screened later in the evening on ABC TV. Melissa Ran, an ASB young alumnus and co-founder of startup Mijura, was inspired by his approach to business and problem solving.

Ran said, “Bill offered me a new perspective on how people who manage to make a significant impact on the world think and act. They are incredibly action-oriented”.

Over 13,000 #qanda tweets were sent during the show – that’s 216 tweets per minute! The peak time was when a question was fielded from the audience in relation to Gates’ guest appearance on The Simpsons.

UNSW’s in-house AV worked closely with the ABC crew to set up the stage and lighting for this and unique event, setting the precedent for future unusual events.

STEADFAST’S SUPER-SIZED GALA AT AUSTRALIAN TECHNOLOGY PARK The 15th National Steadfast Convention brought a gargantuan gala event to Australian Technology Park (ATP) this year with 2800 guests dining in the Exhibition Hall over two nights.

Event Management company, All Occasions, coordinated the event and created two different experiences in the Hall for the broking firm, Steadfast Group. With creative catering, state-ofthe-art tech equipment, entertainment concepts and a unique venue, guests experienced two very different evenings at the Park.

Laissez-faire Catering created the food and beverage menu, table design, centrepieces and linen.

The first night saw the three-course dinner delivered as a family style meal encouraging conversation around sharing food. Laissez-faire used rectangular tables, dressed using white and natural colours.

The second night was a complete change with oval tables, black linen and an exclusive threecourse alternate-drop gala dinner.

On the first night staff wore all black, whilst on the second night they wore black and whites.

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Cascadia Mad Max event

Additionally, two very different entry points were created each night to match the style of the evening ahead.

Director of Sales and Marketing, Ruby Chronis said the Steadfast gala dinners illustrated how diverse the Exhibition Hall can be.

“The beauty of the Exhibition Hall is that it has the ability to be transformed for all types of functions. No two events are the same and with the Hall’s size and layout we are able to use partitions and equipment to change the look and feel of the venue.

“The two Steadfast gala dinners were perfect examples of how with the right equipment, decorations and food, ATP and Laissez-Faire can cater to clients’ needs and ensure each event is unique to the company and achieve the atmosphere they are looking for.”

CIEVENTS WORLD INDIGENOUS NETWORK CONFERENCE cievents took the overarching concept for World Indigenous Network (WIN) and, working closely Dancers at World Indigenous Conference

with the client, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, developed the structure of the entire event. cievents organised a number of activities and performances for the guests, including both the opening and closing ceremonies and a special movie night at the Deckchair Cinema, Darwin’s only open-air cinema located on the waterfront. cievents arranged for 800 delegates to experience the electric atmosphere of the famous Darwin night markets and curated the conference hub, which became an interactive indigenous art space and marketplace.

During the closing ceremony, cievents arranged a once-in-a-lifetime collaborative concert featuring the inspirational Wangatunga Strong Women’s Group, and Australian indigenous hip hop trio The Last Kinection. The performance had everyone in the auditorium out of their seats and dancing in the aisles in an unforgettable moment of cultural unity.

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Theatre of the Horse show at Rise of Royal Randwick

Staging at World Indigenous Conference

Logistical organisation was complicated due to Darwin’s limited air access and transport options, as well as the significant language and cultural barriers present. cievents had to take into account a range of unique indigenous tribal and cultural sensitivities, and still, successfully delivered an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

Nearly six months on from the event, people are still talking about the incredible conference that cievents staged. We exceeded the client’s expectations and delivered a hugely successful, world class function for everyone involved.

Indigenous Protected Areas assistant director Lori Richardson said, “A large part of the success of the conference came from your [ceivent’s] efficiency and professionalism and the fact that you did it with such great humour was icing on the cake”.

RISE OF ROYAL RANDWICK The Australian Turf Club (ATC) officially launched the new Royal Randwick grandstand with a gala spectacular attended by VIPs from across the racing, government, business and social sectors.

ROYAL RANDWICK

NO W

Opening with an arena performance in the Theatre of the Horse followed by a sit down Royal feast for 550 guests, the launch transformed into the ultimate party - a fitting celebration of an important milestone in the Australian horse racing and event industry.

After entering via the day stalls, guests moved through an underground tunnel to The Theatre of the Horse - a new amphitheatre where racing’s best thoroughbreds normally parade pre-race - to enjoy champagne cocktails served from ‘muckout’ wheelbarrows.

Leading events producer Rizer helped to unveil the biggest sporting investment in New South Wales since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

A team of more than 120 people worked behind the scenes to dazzle a guest list including the cream of the Australian racing fraternity.

A bespoke performance piece was created in The Theatre Of The Horse to celebrate some of the greatest horses to grace the world-famous Royal Randwick turf, including Phar Lap, Tulloch, Kingston Town, Gunsynd, Octagonal and the mighty Black Caviar.

The performance, which included a ‘race’ of horses at liberty (no riders), was a collaboration of artistic and design directors with such credits as Olympic opening and closing ceremonies.

Performed without jockeys, the act was choreographed to an original musical composition before a spectacular digital backdrop projected onto the grandstand. The show culminated with a magnificent choral, lighting and fireshow.

Following the official opening formalities, a Royal feast showcased Royal Randwick’s gourmet catering. Tables spilling with turf and flowers created a grand setting for the 550-person banquet of champagne, seafood and braised wagyu beef.

The end of dinner signaled the commencement of even more festivities in the Royal Randwick ballroom. The party of the season saw the ballroom transformed into three distinct venues, transporting guests to a carnival of circus acts, a surreal parlour of performers and a whiskey bar with live music and DJs as invitees celebrated into the night, among the first to experience the stunning makeover.

OP EN !

Sydney’s new world class facility Spectacular Ballroom

The highly anticipated new Royal Randwick is now open! Located minutes from the Sydney CBD, it offers flexible state of the art event facilities ideal for gala dinners, conferences, cocktails and more.

Theatre of the Horse

The Grandstand

For bookings and enquiries P 1300 729 668 | E contactus@australianturfclub.com.au | australianturfclub.com.au

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Chief executive officer of the Australian Turf Club Darren Pearce said, “The launch event was a momentous occasion, not just for Australia’s racing industry but for Sydney itself, and something that only happens once in many generations.

CASCADIA MOTIVATION’S MAD MAX DINNER Cascadia, a performance improvement company, chose Australia as its incentive travel program destination, giving Sydney-based events outfits Funktionality a brief of, “We closed down the Pyramids in Egypt and held a sit-down Egyptian dinner, beat that!”

Upon settling on a Mad Max themed extravaganza to tie in with the upcoming launch of the movie remake, Funktionality managed and developed a sit-down dinner for 1100 guests at The Dome at Sydney Olympic Park.

The event was brought to life with scrap metal and raw materials, inviting audiences to step into a recycled wasteland of corrugated iron and earth tones, to experience an extraordinary Mad Max reality. Guests were captivated by the spectacular entertainment and filled with high energy throughout the night as grinder girls and fire twirlers roamed the Thunderdome.

AUDI HAMILTON ISLAND RACE WEEK 2013 30 years of sailing was celebrated in August at the prestigious Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2013. The international yachting event, now the largest offshore regatta in Australia, attracts sailing’s elite including the country’s best sailors and yachts such as Bob Oatley’s (owner of Hamilton Island) six time Sydney to Hobart winning super maxi, Wild Oats XI. 2013 also offered another 38 Spice

cause for celebration; the 10th anniversary of the Oatley family’s custodianship of Hamilton Island.

But the event isn’t just for sailors. Over the last three decades Race Week has evolved into a spectacular display of on-water racing paired with the finest epicurean cuisine, exclusive fashion shows, flowing champagne and celebrity guests.

Designed to keep not only the sailor’s family and friends returning year after year, but also attracting travellers in search of a unique winter getaway is the impressive shore-side social calendar.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week’s opening weekend was filled with impressive gastronomic displays by principal sponsor, Audi’s, three esteemed ambassadors. Matt Moran, Kylie Kwong and Shannon Bennett, three of Australia’s most notable chefs, dazzled guests with their gastronomic ingenuity. Matt Moran created a beautiful ‘Chiswick’ inspired garden dinner at Hamilton Island’s coca chu restaurant, Moran showcased dishes designed for sharing from his lauded Sydney restaurant by the same name, the menu reflecting the simplicity of great produce and changing seasons, including To Share dishes of the Wood roasted Moran family lamb with chermoula and cous cous, Fish and prawn tagine, and Roast chicken with baby carrots and radicchio. The dinner was emceed by television personality, Sandra Sully.

The traditional Australian brunch was given an inimitable Cantonese twist by talented chef and author, Kylie Kwong, who presented her unique ‘dim sum-style’ brunch in the winter sunshine on Hamilton Island Yacht Club’s Bommie Deck.

Kwong created delicious, organic and sustainablyharvested treats including her steamed scallop dumplings, crispy prawn wontons, and famous mini pork buns. Kwong said, ‘My brunch menu showcased the delicate delights of freshly made

Cantonese-Style Dim Sum whilst also highlighting the distinct and delicious flavours and textures of our unique Australian native produce.’

In ultimate celebration of the 30th Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, Shannon Bennett and four of his protégés combined their talents to produce ‘30’. Synchronised swimmers, wearing exclusive Collette Dinnigan swimwear capped off with 50’s style floral swimming caps, glided through qualia’s infinity-edged pool at sunset, creating a magical setting for an unforgettable dinner. Canapés were

by Jim McDougall, previously Vue de monde’s Sous Chef and Café Vue 401’s Head Chef, now part-owner and Head Chef at two-hatted Stefano’s Restaurant; 1st course was by Josh Lewis, previously of Vue de monde, Spain’s Mugaritz, and Head Chef at Oman’s Vue and now at Loam restaurant on the Bellarine Peninsula; 2nd course by Cory Campbell previously of Copenhagen’s Noma and now Vue de monde’s Head Chef; 3rd course by Shannon Bennett & Cory Campbell; and 4th course by Darren Purchese previously of London’s Savoy Hotel, pastry chef at Vue de monde, and now owner and pastry chef of Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio.

Another highly popular culinary event on the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week calendar was the Charles Heidsieck Lunch. The event was attended by hundreds of guests, including Ronan Keating and girlfriend Storm Uechtritz; the glamorous pair special guests of the Oatley family.

Following canapés and champagne on arrival was a bespoke three-course lunch created by qualia’s Executive Chef, Alastair Waddell, and matched with fine Charles Heidsieck wines. Decked out in ‘Hamptons’ dress theme, guests enjoyed an elegant menu of Bellota ham, apple and celeriac, miso and lime aioli to start matched with Charles Heidsieck

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Brut Reserve. The main of Marron tail, baby gem lettuce, fennel preserve, tarragon was served with Charles Heidsieck Brut Millésimes 2000, followed by dessert of Rhubarb, yoghurt and ginger accompanied by Charles Heidsieck Rosé Reserve. More than 1,200 bottles of Charles Heidsieck NV and 400 bottles of Piper Heidsiek NV and Piper Rose Sauvage were consumed by race goers throughout the week-long regatta.

Undoubtedly the show stopping highlight of the week was the Collette Dinnigan Resort Show & Cocktail Party; with Hamilton Island the only location outside of Paris that the internationally acclaimed fashion designer shows her collections.

The event was presented by the Oatley family to celebrate the dual milestones of the 30th anniversary of the great sailing regatta and 10th anniversary of their custodianship of Hamilton Island. The star-studded guest list included Australia’s golden girl Asher Keddie and partner Vincent Fantauzzo, who sparkled from head to toe in Collette Dinnigan and Paspaley pearls, top male models of the moment Zac & Jordan Stenmark, celebrity stylist Romy Frydman, socialite and mother-to-be Terry Biviano, actress and director Gracie Otto, Sunrise Executive Producer Michael Pell, Vitamin King and entrepreneur Marcus and Caroline Blackmore, who recently married on the Island, as well as

the entire Oatley family including patriarch Bob Oatley and wife Val. Guests enjoyed pre-show canapés and Charles Heidsieck champagne as the sun was setting at qualia’s waterside Pebble Beach, before being transferred up to qualia’s magnificent Long Pavilion for the parade. TV personality Catriona Rowntree emceed the parade for 250 guests, which was opened by top model Alexandra Agoston wearing a silk and sequin halter top teamed with neat tailored shorts. Nicole Pollard and Montana Cox were also among the 14-strong contingent of the country’s top models, who flew into the Whitsunday Island for the occasion.

ROSEHILL GARDENS

Delivering award winning events Award winning Hospitality

With over 30,000m2 of flexible, indoor and outdoor space for gala dinners, conferences and large scale exhibitions and events, Rosehill Gardens really is the event planners’ venue of choice.

Cocktail parties

Grand Pavilion

For bookings and enquiries P 1300 729 668 | E contactus@australianturfclub.com.au | australianturfclub.com.au

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A List Open House at AIME Photo: ©Oneill Photographics

Flawlessly suited to 30th celebrations are pearls; the traditional gift of a 30th anniversary, so to celebrate the event Paspaley hosted the Pearl Pursuit and Luncheon. Special guests at the event included actress Asher Keddie and Vincent Fantauzzo, models of the moment the Stenmark twins, Zac & Jordan, TV personality Catriona Rowntree, celebrity stylist Romy Frydman, socialite and motherto-be Terry Biviano, TV personality Livinia Nixon, along with event host and third generation member of the Paspaley clan, Christopher Paspaley, and the Oatley family’s Nicky Tindill. Keddie and Tindill were both adorned with Paspaley Pearls for the occasion, with Keddie showcasing her own Paspaley Australian South Sea pearl stud earrings and Tindill wearing Paspaley Australian South Sea pearl three-strand bracelet.

Over 100 guests embarked on the inaugural Island-wide treasure hunt, armed only with maps and buggies, searching for a ‘magic key’. One lucky guest, Greg Murray, was rewarded when his key opened the master pearler’s box and revealed an exquisite Paspaley pearl necklace, a fitting gift to commemorate a 30th milestone. The stunning piece, part of the Lavalier collection, is appropriately inspired by the nautical ropes, nets and buoys used to harvest the wild pearl oysters in a centuries-old tradition. The guests were rewarded at the end of their journey with an ‘elegantly shipwrecked’ barefoot lunch on the sands of Pebble Beach, qualia. The four-course feast created by the resort’s Executive Chef, Alastair Waddell, featured Caviar, crème fraiche and brioche to start, followed by Oyster and pearl meat with Tapioca, 40 Spice

wakame, and oyster broth. Main course was Soy and lime marinated shiro kin inside skirt with confit tomato and eggplant, followed by Strawberry, champagne and lemongrass for dessert, all with matching wines.

Other culinary highlights of the week-long regatta included creator of Sydney’s The Apollo Jonathan Barthelmess who presented his own unique blend of traditional yet innovative Mediterranean cuisine - a slice of Santorini by the beach. Hamilton Island’s own Adam Woodfield, executive chef at modern south-east Asian restaurant coca chu, also delivered a scrumptious Yum Cha Lunch, while a Wild Oats Wines Ladies Lunch featured patissier extraordinaire Adriano Zumbo and his mastery of pastry.

Other daily activities also spoiled guests, from the new Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Bar at Bommie Deck, Beachside Yoga, sports challenges including the Audi vehicle tug of war and the Audi Australia. Land of Quattro drive experience, to engage Race Week-goers with the brand’s all-wheel drive technology ‘quattro’. For this, Audi built a bespoke all-terrain course at Coral Bay on Hamilton Island where guests could experience driving an Audi Q3, Q5 or Q7.

A LIST GUIDE OPEN HOUSE AT AIME 2013 A new concept in exhibitor engagement, the A LIST Open House, debuted at AIME (AsiaPacific Incentives and Meetings Expo) creating a face-to-face interactive environment for event planners to meet twelve of the brands who make

up A LIST Guide. Each ‘housemate’ had their own room of the house, with award-winning Melbourne caterer Ed Dixon Food Design serving canapés and coffee from the kitchen, A LIST Guide providing free copies of their handy print guide from the ‘library’ and Theme From Jak sharing their styling and design tips over the ‘Dining Room’ table.

A LIST Open House provided a dedicated area for visitors to smell, touch, taste, feel and hear a range of quality products and services that would assist in their future events, especially cocktail parties, product launches and gala dinners.

A LIST Open House reinvigorated the tradeshow experience for the visitors to AIME 2013 and added some excitement, glamour and fun to the tradeshow floor.

TEDX SYDNEY Held at the Opera House, TEDxSydney was an independently organised event licensed from TED by longtime TEDster, Remo Giuffré (REMO General Store) and organised by his General Thinking network of fellow thinkers and other long time collaborators.

With a crowd-farmed menu (all produce served to attendees was grown in and around Sydney, much of it being donated by individuals), a stellar line up of some of Australia’s most original and intelligent thinkers and a crowd that included highly influential bloggers like Sarah Wilson, the day was without exception, one of the best conferences ever seen in Australia.

Speakers included horticulturalist and artist Joost Bakker (of Greenhouse by Joost fame), de-

IT LIST

Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell

signer Marc Newson, human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson and beat boxer Tom Thum.

The TEDxSydney mission, like the TED mission, is to propagate Ideas Worth Spreading; to inform and inspire. Our more specific vision for TEDxSydney is to make it the Asia Pacific region’s leading platform and pipeline for the propagation of great ideas, storytelling, creativity and actionable innovation to the rest of the world; to create and foster a sense of community amongst the people and organisations who have gathered (and continue to gather) around this event; to provide a cultural focus and impetus for conversation and debate.

BUSINESS CHICKS CANDACE BUSHNELL BREAKFAST Business Chicks, Australia’s largest community for women, brought the real Carrie Bradshaw

to Australia for a national tour in July this year.

Candace Bushnell, the woman behind the Sex and the City empire shared the stories behind the series and her success with over 1200 women at a lunch at Crown Melbourne. Guests had the opportunity to share a cosmo with Candace before lunch, received luxury gift bags full of premium products, the chance to win five star prizes including a Coach handbag and designer shoes.

Models dressed in ‘Carrie’ tutus sashayed around the room with platters of chocolate shoes, guests sipped on Skinnygirl cocktails and a delectable New York themed candy buffet greeted guests at the entry. Guests including Dannii Minogue and Megan Quinn, the co-founder of Net A Porter, were in fits of laughter as Candace candidly spoke about the real Mr Big, what it was like to be in New York in the 80s and how important female friendships are.

MUMBRELLA360 Mumbrella360 is designed to appeal to everyone in the business of media and marketing. Combining curated sessions proposed by Mumbrella readers, as well as keynote speakers and panels from Australia’s most influential media and marketing executives, the conference received over 1,100 delegates and ran for three days on Level 3 and Level 4 of Hilton Sydney’s convention space.

Food stations were set up around the exhibition booths that allowed for an easy flow of attendees to eat and continue networking. Items for lunch included (hot roast rolls station manned by Chefs, pie stations, dim sums, individual serves of salad).

The Hilton team also was challenged with quick turnaround/room refreshes so that sessions could commence on time. Mumbrella had lots of media activities during the conference (ie. battle of the media) so the Hilton team needed to assist.

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Spice 41

IT LIST

A live boxing match took place at MCEC Savour Australia

Garvan Gala table setting

BRIAN AMATRUDA AND BARRY MICHAEL SPORTS PRESENT JAMES TONEY VS LUCAS BROWNE

a great success and everyone was delighted with the food, service and general professionalism.”

On Sunday 28 April 2013 event management company Box on Dot welcomed approximately 2200 to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) for the first sporting event held in the Plenary; a live boxing match between Lucas ‘Big Daddy’ Browne and James ‘Lights Out’ Toney.

The in-house kitchen team served up a threecourse Victorian lunch to over 120 tables and all technology was managed in-house. VIPs included actor Ewan McGregor.

Room set-up was unique, particularly the boxed trussing used to house the lighting.

Brian Amatruda from Box on Dot said, “It was

From 15-18 September, Wine Australia held the biggest and first Australian wine business forum on Australian soil in Adelaide, attracting over 750 delegates from 20 countries.

Adelaide Convention Centre, along with 10 other venues across the city, gave guests information on the business of Aussie wine but also an insight into the best of Australian food, dining and culture.

The event was borne out of industry demand – a driving desire for Australian wine producers to connect with their existing and potential trading partners. The event producers brought together some of the world’s most influential wine trade

42 Spice

SAVOUR AUSTRALIA

partners including retailers, sommeliers, distributors, top Australian winemakers, captains of industry and leading wine and lifestyle media on Aussie soil.

The forum was designed invigorate interest in and drive sales of Australian wine in the major international markets of the US, UK and China by sharing the best Australia has to offer, and delivering an unprecedented immersion into Australia’s food, wine, lifestyle and landscape.

THE GARVAN INSTITUTE 50TH ANNIVERSARY GALA On Saturday 25th May, The Garvan Institute took over Grand Ballroom at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth for its annual fundraising gala for 260 of its supporters.

IT LIST

The event was MC’ed by ABC News Breakfast presented Virginia Trioli and included a star-studded guest list including The Hon. Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, The Hon. Jillian Skinner, NSW Minister for Health and NSW Minister for Medical Research, Delta Goodrem and Chairman of the Garvan Research Foundation Board Geoff Dixon.

The event was designed by Pip Margan with a menu designed by Chef Neil Perry, AV provided

by Prime AV and floral design and table centrepieces provided by Grandiflora. Table vases were provided by Dinosaur Designs and Grandiflora, gold tiffany chairs were provided by Chair Covers and candelabra and additional styling props were provided by Funktionality. Bright Red Oranges and M&C Saatchi designed the invitations and the program.

Event designer Pip Margan said, “This year, while celebrating our 50th anniversary we decided to go with gold – the traditional gift of a 50th anniversary. We hung almost 100 gold lanterns from the ballroom ceiling to provide the whole ballroom with a gorgeous warm glow. The awesome team from Prime AV spent hours hanging and rigging these – bless them.

“We painted white foam letters which we have made for last year’s Gala in a sparkly gold glitter as a focal point and kept the rest of the room pretty simple. White drapes were used on three sides of the room and a white stage was brought in to provide a neutral background to allow the gold letters to sparkle. White Phalaenopsis orchids were placed in a variety of different vases, from traditional science glassware (conical flasks and beakers) to resin Dinosaur Designs vases to provide an eclectic yet luxe and opulent feel.”

As part of the Festival’s commitment to regional Queensland, concerts and performances are also held in surrounding centres with past concerts taking place in Charters Towers, Mount Isa, Ayr, Karumba, Magnetic Island and Orpheus Island.

PERFECT CHINA LEADERSHIP SUMMIT, JULY 2013 3,000 delegates from Perfect China, a leading health and personal care direct selling company, attended a jam-packed incentive trip to Sydney, with most of the experiences being designed exclusively for them.

This included a private tour of Tobruk Sheep Station, with a sheep-shearing demonstration, damper and billy tea cooking, bush dancing workshops, sheep mustering and close-up encounters of native animals.

An area of Darling Harbour was roped off

exclusively for the group to welcome the President of Perfect China and was followed by a high-speed water display complete with jet boats, speed boats, fireworks and acrobatics.

The event culminated in the largest single corporate group to climb the Harbour Bridge - 2,100 delegates made the trip over one day.

HERBALIFE’S INCENTIVE TRIP TO THE GOLD COAST IN JULY 1,050 Chinese delegates visited the Gold Coast in July 2013 for an incentive trip.

The trip included interaction with Australia’s unique wildlife at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Sea World, a winery tour, theme park excursions, sand sculpting and beach walk at Currumbin Beach, and high tea at the Palazzo Versace.

The final gala dinner and awards spectacular was held at the Jupiters Hotel and Casino.

AUSTRALIAN FESTIVAL OF CHAMBER MUSIC Entering its 23rd year in 2013, the Australian Festival of Chamber Music has developed an international reputation for its distinguished artists and innovative programming across a range of chamber music styles.

The Festival is held over 10 days from 26 July – 3 August with approximately 25 to 30 chamber musicians appearing in over 25 concerts in a variety of venues around Townsville.

Spice 43

TRAINING

RAISING THE BAR: SYDNEY TAFE TRAINS NEXT GENERATION OF CHEFS, BAKERS AND EVENT MANAGERS Sydney TAFE maintains ongoing partnerships within the industry to ensure programs evolve to address trends and skills shortages. By continually aligning curricula with industry trends, Sydney TAFE ensures that students are ‘work ready’ upon graduation.

SYDNEY TAFE’S RECENT RIGHT WAY ACCREDITATION Sydney TAFE’s tourism, hospitality and services industries teaching sections have been recognised as one of Australia’s leading education and training providers with national Right Way accreditation.

The faculty has been granted Right Way accreditation for their facilities at Ultimo, Petersham, Gymea and Loftus in hairdressing, beauty therapy, commercial cookery, and floristry. This is a statement of confidence in their capability, one that makes a clear message to industry that training at Sydney TAFE will be of the highest quality with great facilities.

Jane Strode with Sydney TAFE students

With Australians’ rapidly evolving palate and a constant stream of increasingly sophisticated international travellers visiting the country, the demand for top-notch restaurants and festivals has exploded in recent years.

To meet this demand, hotels and eateries on every price level are looking for people with the right skills and enthusiasm for creating those amazing experiences that keep customers coming back and telling their friends.

Hospitality acting Head Teacher Lindy Pollock said, “Through our industry partnerships, we know that there are current skills shortages in the roles of cooks and chefs as well as bakers and pastry chefs. In addition to specific courses to train

and up-skill students in these disciplines, we offer one-off master classes and competitions in specialties like chocolate confectionery and patisserie that consistently exceed industry expectations.”

In another extra-curricular skills exercise, Sydney TAFE’s top 10 apprentice chefs have been selected to create seafood canapés for the upcoming Pyrmont Ultimo Chamber of Commerce launch event for the new ‘Where the Locals Go’ Guide.

With Mexican cuisine being in fashion at the moment, students prepared a ‘Day of the Dead’ themed food festival. By making each dining experience a cultural journey, restaurateurs are better prepared to compete for the tastebuds of the dining public.

SYDNEY TAFE OFFERS CERTIFICATE IV COURSES IN: Accommodation Services – Front office supervisor, concierge, butler, housekeeping supervisor Commercial Cookery – Executive chef, sous chef Hospitality – Food and beverage supervisor Patisserie – Executive chef, sous chef, supervisor Sydney TAFE also offers Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses in Hospitality Management.

2012 Young Culinary Achiever Scholarship winner Fuji Taukatelata with Martin Boetz

44 Spice

www.sydneytafe.edu.au/enrol

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AUSTRALIAN EVENT AWARDS

SPICE CONGRATULATES AUSTRALIAN EVENT AWARD WINNERS The teams that took out the inaugural Australian Event Awards have the wildest imaginations, the best technical skills and the sharpest organisational smarts in the business. Read on to see who made the grade this year.

2013 WINNERS Australian Event of the Year WINNER: Vivid Sydney 2013 – Destination NSW

Best Exhibition WINNER: Taste of Sydney; Brand Events Australia Pty Ltd

Best Sporting Event WINNER: Santos Tour Down Under 2013

Coates Hire Best Community Event WINNER: Yarrabah The Musical; Opera Australia

Best Tourism Event WINNER: Vivid Sydney 2013 - Destination NSW

Best New Event WINNER: Margaret River Gourmet Escape ; Brand Events Australia Pty Ltd

Best Charity or Cause-Related Event WINNER: Optus RockCorps; RockCorps Pty Ltd

Best Regional Event WINNER: Byron Bay Bluesfest

CIM Magazine Best Meeting or Conference WINNER: 34th International Geological Congress; Carillon Conference Management Pty Limited Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event WINNER: 18th Biennale of Sydney: All Our Relations Doltone House Best Corporate Event WINNER: AGL 175th Gala Celebration; This Space + Events [v] Companies

Best Achievement in Design, Look or Theming WINNER: The Electric Canvas for their work on White Night Melbourne Best Achievement in Catering WINNER: ARIA Catering for their work on TEDxSydney 2013 Best Achievement in Marketing, Communication or Sponsorship WINNER: Felicity Fellows and Kate Dezarnaulds for their work on TEDxSydney Sponsorship

Best Achievement in Sustainability WINNER: The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust for their work on Harbourlights New Year’s Eve Best Technical Achievement or Innovation WINNER: Auditoria for their work on London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Ceremonies Sydney New Year’s Eve Best Venue WINNER: Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre Best Product or Service WINNER: BeGlobal Traffic Management System by Global IT Best Education or Training Program WINNER: William Angliss Institute Events Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Events Best Export WINNER: Auditoria for their work in London, Mersin, Sochi and Dubai Young Achiever of the Year WINNER: Lauren Hayward nominated by Forum Group Events Event Manager of the Year WINNER: Event Planet Lifetime Achievement Award WINNERS: Di Henry Sandy Hollway Mary Lopez

46 Spice

BUSINESS EVENTS

HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH CHINA

W

hen the dragon awakes, she will shake the world. Sound familiar?

If you’ve been taking note of all the hype surrounding the Asian Century, you will be well aware of this concept and probably wondering how to cash in.

The good news is that the prospect of building a viable business relationship with China is firmly founded in the reality. For Australian operators wanting to access this market, the real key to success is understanding how to build this idiosyncratic relationship.

Penny Lion from Tourism Australia’s Business Events division said, “Doing business with China is not just about congee on the breakfast buffet. It’s understanding how Chinese people think and behave. They love jam-packed itineraries full of group activities and teambuilding. They especially appreciate a formal welcome from a senior staff member.

“Having said that, they’re not necessarily all that different to Western travellers. There’s this perception that they don’t want to do anything outside in the sun and that they won’t go anywhere near water. This is no longer true. Chinese travellers are developing Western tastes. The recent Herbalife China incentive in May saw 1,000 Chinese delegates take a cruise on a charter boat on the Gold Coast where they caught their own fish, cooked and ate it. For a majority of the delegates, the outdoors component of the program, was the highlight of their trip.”

According to Lion, Chinese visitors love the wide open spaces and clean air; what Tourism Australia’s Andrew McEvoy refers to as, ‘Where the blue meets the green’. “First-timers usually focus

on Sydney, Uluru and tropical north Queensland. Return visitors are then happy to explore further afield into places like South Australia and Tasmania. Food and wine are big drivers for this market but particularly red wine and seafood. We recently took a group to meet Peter Gago, the Chief Winemaker from Penfolds and it was like they were meeting a rock star. We have also taken Penny Lion from Tourism Australia

Perfect China leadership group summit BridgeClimb

groups down to Tassie to go oyster shucking. It’s that sort of experience that seems to really work for this market.”

The key feeder markets that Tourism Australia is focussing on are Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou with the key factors in the pitch being that Australia is the closest Western destination with very little jetlag because of the similar time zones.

MUST-HAVES FOR DEALING WITH CHINA • A busy and active program • Official welcome and thank you from a senior person • Access to translators and in-language printed materials and signage wherever possible • Offer group/interactive activities like cooking classes • Eat early and focus menus around seafood, indigenous ingredients and red wine • Offer exciting entertainment like famous Chinese singers, interactive dancers, photobooths and red carpets • Offer some Aboriginal content • Offer the opportunity to interact with wildlife • Allow time for shopping

Spice 47

EXHIBITIONIST

WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON FOR THE EXHIBITION AND EVENTS SECTOR? Exhibitions and Events Association Australasia chief executive officer Joyce DiMascio consults her crystal ball for 2014.

O

ur Association invests in capturing the mood of our membership through a formal research program that is now into its fifth wave.

Every six months, we produce the EEAA Market Monitor, a useful ‘dipstick’ of the performance and outlook of our member companies.

Combine this with anecdotal information picked up through our Board meetings, member contact and keeping our ear to the ground and we have a good picture of what’s going on in our sector.

At present, the sentiment is positive, driven mostly by growth in the consumer events segment.

Lifestyle events are by far the biggest category and their performance continues to drive the market on many fronts.

After Lifestyle, Retail/Wholesale, Manufacturing, Business and Energy are the next top drivers of events.

The other positive news is that our organisers will deliver seventeen new events in 2014. This is always good to hear as it shows organisers are still willing to invest in new concepts and new shows.

This is what drives the market and creates opportunities for the whole industry.

One of the most exciting characteristics of the exhibition industry is that it is highly commercial and very nimble. Where there is an opportunity to create a new event, organisers will take it.

Everybody benefits from the commercial acumen and drive of the organiser community. The venues are able to host the event and contractors and suppliers get to build and deliver the shows. It’s an inter-connected ecosystem that is so dependent on the business sentiment of the organisers.

The EEAA membership includes the biggest companies in Australia so we have the opportunity to get a good handle on what’s happening in the marketplace. Companies like Reed Exhibitions, Diversified Events, and Informa are all looking at new shows and this is very exciting.

We have also picked up the issues that may inhibit business growth.

The top four factors playing on the minds of our members in this regard are the domestic economy, decreasing exhibitor budgets for investment in exhibitions, the cost of doing business and competitor activity.

48 Spice

Joyce DiMascio

There is also concern about the impact of venue construction. This relates to concerns about the closure of the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre which is now a reality.

While many events are relocating to other sites, moving an event from a location is disruptive and carries great risks.

The Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island will host the first exhibition in February 2014.

This is the Reed Gift Fair, one of the biggest shows in the country. In many ways, this is the event that will test the facilities. There is no doubt the organiser, Reed Exhibitions, the venue and all the suppliers will be working hard to ensure the success of this event for exhibitors and visitors.

2013 has been a very tricky year for our industry especially for those whose events that are losing their home, the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre (SCEC). Relocating events to new venues presents monumental challenges which our industry has faced with tenacity, commitment and great expertise.

As the doors close on the SCEC for the last time on December 8, 2013 we know that a lot is changing – we hope the disruption and cost is worth it in the long-term.

I wish the members of the EEAA great success in 2014 and I thank them for the professionalism and leadership they have shown during the past 18 months of planning for the change that is now upon us all.

ABOUT EEAA The Exhibition and Events Association of Australasia (EEAA) is a member-based association that represents the major venues, organisers and suppliers who deliver Australia’s major consumer and trade shows. These shows cover all industry and lifestyle sectors including every conceivable category from boating to home renovation, food and wine, motoring, mining and energy, careers and education. It was established in 1991 and offers a year-round program of services to its members.

Our association comprises 25 organisers, 26 venues and 81 suppliers who deliver thousands of trade and consumer events around the country.

The role of EEAA is to: • Strengthen the voice of the exhibition and events sector through effective advocacy and research • Promote exhibition marketing as the most powerful face-to-face marketing channel • Promote education, training and best practice in the industry • Recognise achievement and excellence • Promote a safe industry through sound OH&S and ethical practice • Help member businesses to grow profitably

EXHIBITIONIST

INTRODUCING INSPIRE EX: A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR THE EVENTS INDUSTRY

By Pascal Ibrahim

M

ore than ever before, events need to demonstrate a direct correlation between spend and ROI to a business’ bottom line.

We still need to excite, engage and be memorable but the way events were traditionally bought, pitched and produced has now evolved. These changes in the event industry we work with every day should drive an evolution in the way our industry meets, engages and conducts business. And in 2014 it has: Exhibitions and Trade Fairs is proud to present Inspire EX. Inspire EX has evolved from the successful elements of the Australian Business Events Expo and Sydney’s Event Showcase; it will present the best of breed from the industry in an exciting, engaging experience – it’s more than a tradeshow.

The entire event has been designed in a way that qualified and interested event buyers have the ability to experience and be inspired by the industry’s leading professionals and companies in a non-traditional setting.

The two day event will be held 18-19 August 2014 at Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island and offers a brand new opportunity for the industry to inspire buyers in search of new offerings for their next event.

Inspire Ex – Some of the new and exciting experiences you can see at next year’s show:

1. ZONE EXPERIENCE

tions, such as wine tasting, event themeing 101, floral arranging for events and advice on lighting and AV techniques throughout the show floor.

The floor plan has been reinvented to create a series of experiential zones. The Zones represent the key components of the events industry; the structure of the floor plan will allow exhibitors creative licence to ‘put their best foot forward’ and offer a seamless experience for buyers.

The Zones have been designed to represent the disciplines of the events, ensuring a great environment for buyers. The Zones will be broken down into: • Travel & Destinations • Hotels & Venues • Event Products and Services • Technology and Media • Hospitality and Catering • Entertainment

3. EDUCATION THAT INSPIRES

2. FRESH EXPERIENCES

Exhibitors who get in early will experience the full scope of the marketing and PR efforts, with mentions across digital and print media, social media and advertising.

For more information please drop us a line or visit www.inspireex.com.au. If you are interested in exhibiting please contact Pascal Ibrahim on 02 9556 7969 or pibrahim@etf.com.au.

The floor plan has multiple demonstration stages within the show floor, giving buyers the chance to experience new and fresh features. With experiences like the Bite Tastings Zone, the Taste Kitchen, Entertainment Showcase, Technology & Media Zone and visitor Concierge service. Inspire EX will also host several mini-seminars and product demonstra-

The 2014 education program will have two dedicated streams of sessions with key note seminars featuring the finest event industry professionals from across the globe and seminar sessions targeted to specific day to day operational needs within the events industry to inspire the delivery of better events.

4. THE NEW VIP Inspire EX will inspire a new breed of VIP. With a brand new criteria matched with the pre-qualified needs of the VIP, the program will be designed to deliver buyers with an even greater desire to purchase.

5. MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES

Demonstrations will be a big part of the Inspire Ex program

Spice 49

INSIDER

OUTSTANDING TIPS FROM THE TOP 5 ways to make your exhibition space stand out By Merryn Bourne

S

1KEEP THINGS SIMPLE

Keep your product display as simple as possible. Be consistent with the look of your products and company logo. If your logo is blue – make this your overall colour and use other neutral complimenting colours. This will emphasise your branding, allow your products to stand out and give your stand a professional look.

2CREATE A ‘GOOD VIBE’

Make your stand welcoming. You can use smells, lighting, sounds and visuals, or create a comfortable meeting area. A groovy lounge or designer chair would look great in your meeting area. Or consider using funky design elements like custom-built brochure racks or interesting display cabinets.

Plants, flower arrangements, pebbles or a water feature, also create a great vibe, based on the feeling you want to create.

Food or drink is also welcoming. Depending on your budget, you could offer a full bar or café or a simple coffee machine or water cooler.

YOUR CUSTOMERS A REASON 3GIVE TO VISIT

Consider planning an ‘event’ like: a name badge or business card draw, raffle, talk, competition, or demonstration, etc. Advertise the event time on your stand to attract a crowd. Events can also be advertised before the show. This is great for your business, and for the event organisers.

4GET PERSONAL

Make your customers feel special with a personal invitation, and a specific time to talk with you. Everyone loves giveaways. Pens, mousepads, mugs, key-rings, fridge magnets, etc. can be customised with your company logo. Or create something that complements your product or service. For instance, an IT company could giveaway memory sticks, or perhaps an IPAD if the budget allows!

5USE FACEBOOK

Create a facebook page, invite fans and engage prospective customers with registration details, or news about a new exhibit, promotions or giveaways.

Merryn Bourne is the CEO and Head of Creative of the Design Agency, Fish Tank Creative, www.fishtankcreative.com.au

50 Spice

PICE talks to Cheryl Cecchetto of Sequoia Productions about career longevity, celebrity blindness and what it’s really like to produce the Oscars Governor’s Ball.

Cheryl Cecchetto has spent the better part of her life producing the Emmy® Awards Governors Ball (15 years), the Academy Awards® Governors Ball (25 years), G’DAY USA Australia Week, (10 years), gigs that came about as much by chance as through hard slog.

She originally trained to be an actress and ventured to LA to find work. Between auditions, she started working in events and her flair for

stagecraft and direction got noticed.

25 years later, she is the most sought after events producer in Hollywood. So how did she do it? At the recent ABEE, Cheryl shared some hard won insights.

“Producing events in Hollywood is very similar to making a film,” Cecchetto told SPICE. “Everyone wants their event to be the best and the first.”

Despite the proliferation of celebrities, Cheryl said it’s important to focus on the overall production rather than individual stars. She said that she has cultivated ‘celebrity blindness’ wherein she cares for their needs without paying attention to their social cachet.

She emphasised the need to alter the guest’s state from walking in to, ‘OK, I’m here. Nothing else matters,’ and that food and wine is the number one way to communicate with guests from all cultures and walks of life.

CHERYL’S TIPS FOR CREATING A SUCCESSFUL EVENT 1. Have a celebrity presence 2. Be a trendsetter, not follower 3. Engage the five senses 4. Ensure that there is a charitable aspect 5. Ensure that the event is run efficiently 6. Make sure the event has a beginning, a middle and an end 7. Make your event sustainable 8. Ensure the event is customised to the client and/or company 9. Ensure that guest’s privacy is respected 10. Make sure the event has ‘wow’ factor 11. Make sure that the client gets a 120% return on their investment

INSIDER

SPICE HOSTS FIRST INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLE A group of nine top tier industry experts from cievents, Directions, Event Planet, Think Social, Wasamedia and Business Events Sydney got together to talk innovation, ideas and issues. The upshot? A clearer picture of what’s working and what needs attention in 2014.

• Incentives: Inbound visitors want to see the icons – Uluru, the Opera House, The Rocks; Indian visitors loving staying at Blu Hotels (owned by Taj) and eat Indian food (ie Aki’s); Chinese and Indian groups are buying Australia through in-market Chinese and Indian specialists, and Chinese visitors like staying at The Star because it has a casino and smoking opportunities.

• Regional Tourism: Regional areas suffer from staffing and service level issues, especially when they’re promoting themselves as 5-star. A smarter angle would be to offer authenticity and personality until the investment can be made in staff training (and it pays off).

• International MICE destinations: There are issues around destinations having enough offsite venues that can cater for groups of 250 people or more.

In addition to this, some countries’ liquor laws can impact upon bookings in the sense that they won’t offer beverage packaging or there are very strict laws around alcohol consumption due to cultural and religious sensitivities. The two to watch in terms of emerging MICE destinations are Korea and Taiwan.

• Exhibitions: The viability of exhibitions depends on the industry and whether it’s a corporate event or a ticketed event. It’s still really important for people to meet in real life; nothing will ever replace face-to-face but there needs to be some cost-saving innovation in industries where exhibitions are no longer cutting through. IMEX is a great example of an exhibition that is still really useful.

• Trends: Technology trends include free wifi for delegates, conference apps where you can see all the delegates that are registered (ie TravelMart where all

appointments were made online). There is a trend in the restaurant industry towards buying a ticket to the restaurant or the restaurant not taking bookings at all. One of the biggest trends is toward a greater interest in F & B. People want to watch Chefs do prep and know where (ideally local) produce comes from.

Special thanks go to The Ocean Room for hosting this lunch. If you would like to host or attend an industry roundtable, please email egardiner@intermedia.com.au

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PASSPORT CHINA

ENCHANTING CHINA: GUANGZHOU, GUILIN AND BEYOND

A

rriving in Guilin is a like walking through an ancient calligraphic scroll.

Jagged limestone karst mountains jut from emerald flats. It’s a poet’s eye view of China; a land of warriors, concubines and the oriental exoticism.

Contrast this with the shining metal monoliths of Guangzhou; modernity personified. This 30 million-strong southern capital cleaned up its act for the 2010 Asian Games and hasn’t looked back in terms of architectural development, green space and

impeccable cleanliness that seems more at home in Switzerland than a booming industrial city.

Rapidly growing French brand Club Med has dipped its toe in the waters of the ‘Asian Tiger’ with a ski property in Yabulin and a second property launching in Guilin in China’s south west in September this year.

Building on its existing Asian presence in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Japan, Club Med Guilin is located in a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Brendon King, Groups and Incentives Manager for Club Med Australia and New Zealand said, “Guilin is the perfect resort for companies looking for a really inspiring, unexpected destination. It’s easily accessible from Australia and will provide delegates with a unique cultural experience, set amongst one of the most spectacular landscapes in China.

“With state of the art meeting facilities for up to 480 delegates, we really believe Club Med Guilin will be well received by the Australian

CLUB MED RENT-A-RESORT Club Med’s unique Rent-a-Resort concept caters for groups of between 300 and 1000 delegates, with the vision of inspiring guests and creating the perfect conference, product launch or incentive getaway. The increasingly popular option offers groups access to an entire resort, with all resort staff and facilities at the organiser’s exclusive disposal, and every little detail taken care of. Tailored packages cater for specific needs, with options including the ability to re-name the resort, personalise activities and menus, and create dining options with a ‘wow factor’, ensuring a fully flexible, private and premium event designed to boost team spirit and productivity for the coming year.

The sculpture garden at Guilin features over 2000 works

52 Spice

PASSPORT CHINA

The Cave is a popular venue for cocktail receptions

GETTING THERE Huge flatbeds, a decent movie selection, excellent food and polite service in China Southern’s A330 Business Class make the seven hour flight from Sydney to Guangzhou entirely painless.

Guilin is easily accessible for groups; just 45-minutes drive from Guilin Liangjiang International Airport. The airport has direct flights from major cities across Mainland China, as well as Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Seoul and Kuala Lumpur.

Fly with China Southern from Australia to Guilin return in economy from $914* and from $3093* in business.

Lotus Restaurant offers a la carte dining

*Conditions apply, taxes correct at time of release.

On sale until March 31, 2014, for travel until March 27, 2014, some blackout periods apply.

To book your China Southern Airlines flight call 1300 889 628 during AET/AEST business hours, visit www. csair.com.au or see your local travel agent.

and New Zealand MICE market. We’ve already received a number of requests for quotes for Guilin, before the Resort has even been officially launched in Australia.”

The 4-Trident Guilin Resort, re-designed by leading interior designers Studio Hertrich & Adnet, offers 330 luxurious guestrooms across two distinctive hotel wings, three restaurants offering a variety of international and local cuisines, four bars, three swimming pools, spa facilities, nine conference facility spaces, as well as a Limestone Cave which is available for intimate group dinners and cocktail parties.

Guests will be kept entertained with a wide variety of activities, hosted by Club Med’s qualified experts, including archery, golf, tai chi, meditation and creative classes. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy excursions like rock climbing in the famous Karst Mountains or river fishing.

Guilin Club Med has a chemical-free, fresh water pool

For illuminating cultural experiences, guests can experience River Drifting on traditional bamboo rafts, visit local ethnic minority tribe villages, photograph the extraordinary Longji Rice Terraces and visit cultural sites like Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill. There is also the exceptional light and music show, ‘Impression Sanjie Liu’, a large-scale performance with over 600 actors and choreographed by Zhang Yimou, the director of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony.

SOFITEL GUANGZHOU The perfect way to break up your journey to Guilin is with a stop-over in China’s fastest growing city. The Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich Hotel is located in the Tianhe financial and commercial district of Guangzhou.

Facilities include 493 spectacular Paris style décor rooms and suites, five bars and restaurants, 17 state-of-the-art meeting rooms, recreational facilities featuring the award-winning SoSpa, SoFit 24-hour fitness centre and an indoor pool with underwater music.

The hotel’s SoSpa offers a range of treatments in a simply stunning setting. Arrive frazzled and exhausted. Leave on cloud nine.

SPICE tried the deep tissue massage that incorporated a private massage room with full bathroom facilities, the use of L’Occitane essential oils and one of the most skilled massage therapists this side of the international dateline. It’s worth staying at the hotel just to visit SoSpa.

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COMPANY INDEX

COMPANY INDEX 32 Hundred Lighting 8Hotels A LIST Guide ACCOR Adelaide Convention Centre AEG Ogden Anantara Hotels and Resorts Artisan Wine Storage Audi Ice Experience Australian Garden Show Australian Technology Park Australian Turf Club Bar de Halcyon Big Foot Hostel Bright Red Oranges Business Chicks Business Events Sydney Chair Covers Chill n Pour China Southern Cievents Club Med Connectabus Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Crocosaurus Cove Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley Crown Melbourne Dedes on the Wharf Dinosaur Designs Directions DiscGo Event Planet Eventstagram Exhibitions and Events Association Australasia 54 Spice

31 14 40 13 42 10 15 22 30 36 37 18 25 43 41 51 43 11 53 36, 57 52 8 43 22 28 41 15 43 51 32 30, 34, 51 33 48

Experience Oz Fishtank Creative Flanagans Dining Room Flyboard Cairns Fogscreen Four Points by Sheraton Funktionality Grandiflora Hamilton Island Hilton Sydney Hotel Clover IML Inspire Ex Jet Creations Kauai Back Country Kwencher Laissez-Faire Luna Park Sydney Macleay St Bistro Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Mercure Portsea Golf Club & Resort Moonshadow Cruises Navarra Venues Necker Island Noble Awards Nomad Novotel Christchurch Pages Event Equipment Palazzo Versace Peppers Peter Rowland Catering Pip Margan Prime AV Queenstown Rafting

24 50 18 24 32 6, 26 38, 43 43 38 41 10 32 49 11 25 18 36 21, 24 16 42 14 29 16 10 11 16 8 26, 31 43 26 26 43 43 22

Red Lantern 18 Rendezvous Hotels 6 Reserve Wine Bar 28 Rizer 37 Sea World 43 Sequoia Productions 50 Sofitel Guangzhou 53 Sofitel Sydney Wentworth 42 Song Division 20 Sound Campaign 30 Stunt Academy 24 Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre 48 Sydney Olympic Park 28 Sydney TAFE 44 Tamboi Queen Cruises 29 TEDx 40 The Goods Tube 11 The Hill Winery 26 The Ocean Room 51 The Retreat Port Stephens 29 The Star 30 Theme from Jak 40 Think Social 51 This Space Events 31 Thrill Adventures 21 Tobruk Sheep Station 43 Toga Hotels 6, 34 Tourism Australia 47 Tourism New Zealand 8 Tune Hotel Melbourne 15 UNSW 34 VictorsFood 21 Vizi New Media 33 Wasamedia 51 World Expeditions 20

NEXT ISSUE

Coming Up...

The 2014 Leaders Forum This special edition of Spice magazine will see the return of our anticipated annual ‘Industry Leaders Forum’ focusing on the year’s biggest trends, challenges and opportunities as well as looking ahead to what 2014 holds.

This issue is the voice of the industry, where CEOs, managing directors and key buyers speak up on every aspect of the industry from suppliers to associations, venues and accommodation, destinations and much more.

If you’d like to be involved in the issue from a commercial or editorial level, please don’t hesitate to drop our team a line – and you’ll find all of our contact details on page 4.

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