Beyond The Glitter

Queensland’s Sunshine Coast & Hinterland expertly mixes a high-fashion ambience
and cutting-edge tourist and conference facilities.

>> Conference Venues in Noosa.

The Noosa Convention and Exhibition Centre, which boasts the biggest meeting facilities in Noosa, is planning an upgrade of its audio-visual facilities and has already installed ADSL broadband to keep pace with 21st century conference needs. As part of the Noosa Lakes Resort, which opened to critical acclaim in 1998, the Centre has recently hosted the Lindt Chocolate’s National Sales Conference, the International Conference on Monitoring Health Behaviour and the Mission to the World International Church Conference.

With a half-kilometre frontage to popular Lake Doonella and 188 guestrooms and suites including one- and two-bedroom apartments across three hectares of beautifully landscapes grounds, the Noosa Lakes Resort has also played host to the Queensland Premier’s Regional Cabinet Meeting.

Themed events are particularly popular with options such as Gone Surfing, where the poolside area comes alive with lifesavers dedicated to ensuring the enjoyment of each and every delegate. Gone Fishing recreates a traditional campsite with canvas tents, campfires, barbecues and, of course, a very large Esky. Gone Glamour cranks up the sophistication levels with whirring cameras, spotlights and elegant cocktail attire.

Sheraton Noosa Resort & Spa was awarded Starwood’s Hotel of the Year 2002 for the Asia Pacific Division. The Resort won the prestigious award based on its achievements in key performance areas including guest and employee satisfaction, financial performance, sales and marketing promotions and support for Starwood's award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) program.

Relieving Meetings Stress

Coming on top of the recently-completed guestrooms soft refurbishment, the award pleased everyone at the Resort. Other big news is the arrival of the AQUA Day Spa and River Lounge, the only Sheraton-managed spa in Australia.

A unique feature of the $3 million dollar international AQUA Day Spa and River Lounge is the Aqua Therapy Centre set in a private outdoor courtyard. The “walk-through” area offers a range of hydro or resistance-pressure treatments. Individual submerged lounges provide trigger-point therapy through a series of “multi-jets”, producing a gentle warm-water massage through to a high-powered massage in the larger spa.

Noosa Blue Resort has introduced luxury zip king twin beds into a number of its self-contained suites. The increase in the number of twin suites is in response to growing demand by conference and corporate groups.

Noosa Blue’s sales and marketing manager Catherine Williams said: “The conversion of an additional 12 twin-share suites gives the Resort a total of 16 twin-share suites out of a total of 65 suites and offers greater flexibility for our growing conference market. We pride ourselves in meeting the needs of our clients and believe the introduction of additional twin suites gives conference organisers greater flexibility and additional choices to better meet their requirements and budget.”

Varied Options For Groups

As a boutique venue, Noosa Blue Resort is perfectly suited to executive retreats and small to mid-size conferences, and offers exceptional tailored service for each group. Its team of professionals can also assist with fresh ideas for offsite activities and partner programs to ensure the conference is an outstanding success.

Located in the Sunshine Coast’s celebrated Hinterland, Fountainhead Sustainable Farm has opened an organic Health Spa & Retreat. The working avocado and citrus farm offers a range of five- and 12-night packages including such spa treatments as full body massages, reflexology, mud wraps and pedicures, health education and gentle exercise.

Accommodation at Fountainhead is in stylish studio villas overlooking the peaceful lake and spa and fireplace cottages among the organic avocado orchard. Some cabins feature indulgent plunge pools.