Brisbane & surrounds, conference news

Laid-back Charm

The capital of Queensland may be compact, but there's much - both within and beyond its immediate borders - to entertain and entrance.

>> Brisbane City conference venues

>> Brisbane Suburbs conference venues

The appeal of Brisbane as a conference destination is easy to understand, with its compact CBD bordered by the snaking Brisbane River. Many Australians believe it's a lot like a country town, and there are elements of truth in this. The pace of life is relaxed and, for that reason, the friendly residents genuinely welcome visitors.

The city is easily accessed from the rest of Australia and much of the world. Brisbane Airport directly services 26 international and 30 domestic destinations each week. There are around 200 weekly services between Sydney and Brisbane, and 170 between Melbourne and Brisbane.

Some 2.6 million travellers pass through the international terminal annually, while the domestic terminal handles a staggering 9.5 million passengers a year. Twenty years from now, it's estimated the total figure will rise to 35 million.

With these and many other factors operating in Brisbane's favour, it's little wonder that things are going so well in the conference sector.

POPULAR APPEAL

The fourth quarter of last year saw some 17 major conferences held in Brisbane. They included the International Federation of Endodontics Association World Congress in September, the XXV Congress of the International Academy of Pathology in October, and the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) 4th Asia Pacific Regional Congress.

Still to come this year is the Mitre 10 Annual Conference in June and the Australian Nursing Homes and Extended Care Association Federal Congress in October.

THE BIG NAMES

Some of the hottest news in Brisbane occurred in February this year when the former Sheraton Brisbane was re-branded the Sofitel Brisbane Hotel. This is the beginning of a major push of the Sofitel brand into Australia and comes before the launch of the Sofitel Gold Coast in May. The Sofitel, which recently underwent a $10 million refurbishment, promises to be Brisbane's most prestigious internationally branded deluxe hotel. Built over the city's Central Station in the heart of the CBD, the hotel comprises 410 rooms and suites. The Sofitel Brisbane is also one of the largest hotel conference venues in the city, with 14 meeting and function rooms able to cater for up to 1,200 delegates and a choice of five restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

The Carlton Crest Hotel Brisbane, another of the city's prominent convention properties, is well and truly up to speed following an extensive refurbishment.
Located in the heart of the city opposite the City Hall, the Carlton Crest hosts an average of more than 80 events each month and can cater for 10 to 1,000 guests. The refurbishment of the conference space included recarpeting, re-upholstering and repainting such popular areas as the Grand Windsor Ballroom.

The Carlton Crest has two ballrooms that can be connected, as well as 12 other conference and function rooms. It is the only hotel in Brisbane offering two standards of accommodation, in two towers, with a total of 438 rooms. The Carlton Tower has 203 deluxe rooms and seven suites, whilst the Crest Tower features 228 standard rooms.

Heritage grandeur

The heritage aspect of Brisbane gets a lot of attention from conference organisers. The Brisbane City Hall is an impressive circa 1920s venue with sweeping marble staircases, vaulted ceilings, chandeliers and mosaic-tiled floors. There are nine meeting and function rooms holding from 20 to 400 guests. The impressive Main Auditorium can seat up to 800 guests for gala dinners, 1,000 people for cocktail parties, or 1,500 for theatre style presentations. City Hall's historic grandeur is the ideal backdrop for product launches, award nights, galas and special events.

Another great historic venue is the Conrad Treasury Brisbane, comprising two properties that originally served the people of Queensland as the Lands Administration and Treasury Buildings. Highly popular is the Cabinet Room, which for many years was the central meeting place of the Queensland Government's inner sanctum. The maple board room table that dominates the room can seat 18 people for meetings or gala dinners. The Conrad Treasury's largest space is the Map Room, which holds 130 people theatre style or 80 for banquets.

Heading offshore

Away from Brisbane lie some spectacu-lar offshore conference destinations. Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort, in the scenic Moreton Bay district, has won numerous accolades for its leisure and natural activities. The resort has two conference rooms and a number of break-out areas. The Kallatina Room can seat 180 people theatre style or 128 for a banquet. Nature and environment combine to create a unique venue for conferences and meetings at Couran Cove Island Resort. There is a range of facilities available to delegates, including the Olympic Room, which can hold up to 180 people theatre style or 100 for banquets. The health and sporting facilities - from early morning tai chi lessons to mini-Olympics and high-ropes courses - can create teams dedicated and refreshed by the conference program. Fun is also on the agenda, with special events held at locations throughout the property, from an isolated ocean beach to Spa Island.