Cairns & Port Douglas conference news

Tropical delights

Having so much to see and do is all part of the conference experience in the land of reef and rainforest.

The pre-dawn darkness is a good time for conference groups to start exploring the many and diverse experiences that await them in Cairns and tropical north Queensland. Perhaps a little tired after an evening spent celebrating a great convention or business event, delegates board a bus for the journey high into the Atherton Tablelands. With perfect wind conditions, a balloon flight lifts gently into the crisp morning, brightening as the sun crawls above the horizon and the lush countryside begins to take on the bright green contrasts of another fabulous day.

Later in the day, an almost endless array of opportunities is presented: 4WD expeditions into the Daintree National Park; snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef; deep-sea fishing; a leisurely wander through Port Douglas or Palm Cove; or a bountiful fresh seafood lunch at one of Cairns’ many restaurants.

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So you see, the leisure side of conferencing in the Cairns region can be as busy as the meeting program itself, providing delegates with lasting memories.

BRIGHT FUTURE

More than three million domestic and international passengers passed through the Cairns International Airport, Australia’s sixth busiest, in 2003/2004.

Future conference busi-ness is looking positive, with four major events getting a lot of attention. The Good Homemakers Conference, the United Innkeeper Association Conference, the VetLearn Conference and the Eden Alternative International Conference will attract an estimated 1,500 delegates to the region and generate some $3 million for the local economy.

In September last year, Palm Cove hosted its largest-ever conference, with more than 400 members of the FoodWorks supermarket group descend-ing on the village. With FoodWorks delegates accom-modated at the Novotel Coralia Palm Cove Resort Cairns and Outrigger Beach Club & Spa, the conference injected some $1 million into the local economy.

FIRST RATE FACILITIES

The Cairns Convention Centre (CCC) is progressing with an extensive refurbishment, following an $8.5 million funding package from the Queensland Government last year. An upgrade of audiovisual equipment is a priority, while an external and internal facelift will give a fresh new look to much of the centre. Meanwhile, the CCC has taken out the 2004 AIPC Apex Award for the World’s Best Congress Centre from the International Association of Congress Centres (AIPC).

The AIPC Apex Award is made annually on the basis of a comprehensive performance and customer satisfaction analysis. Surveys are completed by event organisers and meeting planners, and cover such areas as congress facilities, project management, catering and technology.

EXTREME MAKEOVERS

The Hilton Cairns has completed a $5 million soft refurbishment, which included new carpets and furniture, as well as the creation of Aqualibrium Spa Rooms on Level 8. All rooms on the Aqualibrium floor comprise an extended, refurbished bathroom featuring a double-sided spa bath and separate shower with views over Trinity Inlet, the Coral Sea or Cairns Highlands.

Aveda deluxe spa products, handmade soaps and a Jurlique spa-bath menu are all part of the guestroom experience that starts with a special welcome by Hilton Cairns’ very own Spa Master. This ceremony includes the gift of seasonal fruit-flavoured tea, fragrant cold towels, handmade soaps, a choice of relaxation CDs and aromatherapy oils for the in-room diffuser.

The wraps are off the newly refurbished Shangri-La Hotel The Marina, Cairns, following its re-branding from a Radisson property. Some $30 million was spent in transforming this waterfront property. A new lobby was one of the first areas completed, while work continued on the creation of 36 new Horizon Club guestrooms with balconies, each measuring around 56 square metres. This executive floor also offers an exclusive Horizon Club Lounge, where private check-in and check-outs, buffet breakfasts, evening cocktails, high-speed broadband Internet access and Business Centre services are offered on a complimentary basis.

The Shangri-La Hotel The Marina, Cairns has extensive conference space, including a ballroom seating 400 people theatre style, three board rooms and two break-out rooms.

BOUTIQUE APPEAL

The opening of the Sea Temple Resort & Spa Palm Cove adds yet another aspect to this charming resort village. With an absolute beachfront location, it has 83 apartments available in one to four bedroom configurations, penthouses with rooftop spas, and bures with individual plunge pools. Many of the apartments offer direct swim-out access to a huge central swimming pool lagoon.

Operated by the highly respected Mirvac Hotels group, there are five state-of-the-art conference rooms, each offering variable space with natural light and flexible break-out areas, as well as a board room and poolside area for functions and events.

The Sea Temple Day Spa will undoubtedly be popular with conference delegates who want to de-stress. The spa has five treatment rooms, a double vichy room, three dry treatment rooms (two with private outside verandahs) and a manicure/pedicure room.

Another Sea Temple Resort & Spa is currently under construction at Port Douglas.