Gold Coast, Queensland conference venue news

The sum of many parts

With so many experiences and so little time, Australia’s premier meetings destination pulls out all the stops.
The Gold Coast’s new destination marketing campaign says it all. Using the old Bobby Darin hit, Beyond the Sea, it features a central character as she moves through a kaleidoscope of typically Gold Coast experiences: a day spa, theme park, restaurant, rainforest, golf course, beach and bar. All are stamped with a slogan that also says it all – “Very GC Very Gold Coast”.

Launched in March, the campaign gives the region all Australians associate with tropical sophistication a very modern and hip appeal. As a positioning philosophy, it is perhaps the boldest yet, reaching out to a market that is highly aware of the Gold Coast, yet might need convincing that it has the lifestyle diversity of other international destinations.

The domestic conference market knows exactly what the Gold Coast is about. Like the holiday market, which has flocked there for more than a century, delegates know that a Gold Coast conference will deliver a standard of experience, service and facilities that are beyond reproach.

BRIGHT AND BREEZY

Forty two kilometres of sandy beaches spread along 70 kilometres of coastline; evocative locations like Coolangatta, Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise and Main Beach; million-dollar homes and upmarket resorts. There’s more: high-rise hotels; massive shopping centres; expansive theme parks; trendy restaurants; and every activity under the sun, in the surf or on the sand. For conferences, it’s all Very GC Very Gold Coast.

At the launch of the new promotional campaign, former chief executive of Gold Coast Tourism, Ian Macfarlane, left little doubt that the region was an aspirational product every bit as imposing as Gucci, Chanel and Maserati.

“We now have ultra-exclusive resorts like Palazzo Versace, and luxurious 5 star properties with world-class spa facilities; we have sophisticated shopping and dining facilities with award-winning restaurants at Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads, Main Beach and Sanctuary Cove; and we host a number of international events,” said Macfarlane. “But perhaps most importantly, the message and graphics have been designed to convey the Gold Coast’s new sense of vibrant style and sophistication in a way that will ensure our promotional images stand out from the crowd of competing destinations.”

A CHERISHED VENUE

Conrad Jupiters celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2005. In that time, it has become one of the most prominent and respected convention facilities in the country. The Pavilion Convention Centre is popular for meetings, conventions, exhibitions and banquets of all sizes. Designed as a totally self-supporting facility, the centre provides a variety of spaces to accommodate groups of half a dozen to high-powered sessions of more than 2,000 people.

Conrad Jupiters has recently introduced a number of new outdoor venues. Two such venues attracting great interest are Jupiters Cove and the Garden Marquee.

Jupiters Cove is located on the water at the eastern side of the hotel, providing a perfect venue for beach parties, themed outdoor dinners, cocktail parties, teambuilding activities and corporate sports days.

The 30 by 40 metre Garden Marquee, located on the hotel’s lawns and connected to its award-winning convention centre by a covered walkway, also caters for those seeking an outdoor venue. From a sunshade in summer to a protected, undercover area in winter, the venue is extremely versatile. For catered functions, the marquee can comfortably seat 700 delegates for banquets. To date, it has also proven popular as an alternative exhibition venue.

Conference delegates have also taken advantage of the newly refurbished Executive Floors and Executive Lounge. These guestrooms have been redesigned in a contemporary, yet extremely comfortable style, with possibly the most comfortable beds on the Gold Coast.

RESORT MAKEOVER

Linked by monorail to Jupiters Casino is another long-running conference tradition that is embarking on a grand makeover. The former Grand Mercure Broadbeach is undergoing a $20 million upgrade and a name change, to the Sofitel Gold Coast. On completion of the refurbishment, it will become the first “new” 5 star hotel on the Gold Coast in over a decade.

The 292 guestrooms will have a stylish, contemporary decor; a cafe and lounge bar will be added to the lobby; and the eight meetings and functions rooms will also given a full makeover.

The Sofitel Gold Coast sits atop the Oasis Shopping Centre with 100 stores and boutiques, surrounded by Broadbeach’s vibrant restaurant scene. Hotel facilities include a tennis court, two pools, sauna, spa and gymnasium. The hotel is also within walking distance to the new Gold Coast Conference and Exhibition Centre, making it especially attractive for the MICE market.

TUNING IN

Wireless broadband Internet access has changed the way conference delegates do business at Hotel Watermark, a property deemed among the first on the Gold Coast to offer the convenience of this progressive technology. This new era in modern conferencing was unveiled at the recent GE Healthcare conference at the resort, facilitating the simultaneous online-based training of 50 IT professionals throughout the company’s week-long event.

The Hotel Watermark’s wireless capabilities offer the ease and total convenience of conducting synchronised online activities with large groups. Wireless access means greater efficiency and productivity, with an average speed five to six times faster than that of broadband Internet.

The Outrigger Sun City Resort in the heart of Surfers Paradise has launched its “Events With Vision” facilities. Located high above street level is a range of two bedroom suites that double as excellent function venues for smaller groups of up to 60 people theatre style or 20 in a board room environment.

Adjoining the function suites are break-out terraces that overlook the famous Gold Coast beaches, Hinterland and Surfers Paradise skyline. The terraces are also ideal for cocktail functions and product launches for up to 100 guests. The Outrigger Sun City Resort has 266 guestrooms featuring all-suite-style accommodation over 39 levels.

WORLDS OF OPPORTUNITY

The newest off-site event property on the Gold Coast is The Jetty on the Broadwater. Managed by Off-Site Connections Event Management, this enormous outdoor space is suitable for groups of between 10 and 2,000 people.

The Gold Coast is another world, or rather many worlds, especially when it comes to its theme-park portfolio. Dreamworld is renowned for its events capabilities, attracting groups large and small. With a range of venues throughout the park, delegates invariably want to push the excitement factor even further by trying out some of the adrenaline-packed rides. Dreamworld’s latest is The Claw, the largest pendulum on the planet and the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

Aside from being a great new ride, The Claw has opened up yet another unique party venue in Ocean Parade that’s great for events. The vibrant beach-house theme reflects the renowned outdoor lifestyle for which Queensland is internationally recognised, as well as providing a large outdoor area with ample room for bands and staging.

Another of Dreamworld’s great venues, Tiger Island, has also recently undergone a complete facelift. A new wet-weather cover now means that Tiger Island is a year-round option. New raised platforms also give guests a better view of the celebrated Bengal tigers as they sip cocktails or indulge in some formal dining. For the last four years, Dreamworld has been named Best Specialty Events Venue in Australia by the Meetings Industry Association of Australia (MIAA). In 2003, the park was the first specialty-event venue to be inducted into the MIAA Hall of Fame.

ANOTHER WORLD

Warner Village Theme Parks (WVTP), which encompasses Warner Bros Movie World, Sea World, Wet‘n’Wild Water World and Paradise Country, has event venues for every occasion. These include stadiums to seat up to 2,500 guests, theatres for presentations for 400, function rooms for 50 to 500, seated dinners for 2,000 and cocktails for 5,000 guests.
Although pitched primarily for the international tourist market, the newly relocated and reopened Paradise Country gives city-slicker conference groups the opportunity to experience a dinky-di Aussie rural experience.

Feasting on a real Aussie barbeque, damper and billy tea, guests are enthralled by exciting horsemanship displays by stockmen; koala cuddling; kangaroo feeding; whip cracking; boomerang throwing; sheep shearing; live entertainment; and bush dancing. Located between Warner Bros Movie World and the Wet‘n’Wild Water World, it adds yet another dimension to the Gold Coast experience.

Sea World consolidates its position as one of the region’s best-loved events venues, with a range of exciting theme possibilities. Choose from cocktails with the polar bears, dinner with the dolphins, or an action-packed water skiing show followed by a massive fireworks display.

FAR AND WIDE

Warner Bros Movie World takes delegates behind the scenes to experience the world of film as only the glitterati can. Breathtaking stunts, facades and backdrops recreated from Hollywood’s Golden Era are all available. Delegates can be the stars of a Moulin Rouge backdrop, have some side-slappin’ fun with a Blazing Saddles night, or dare to ride the Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster prior to dinner in the Spooky Castle.

Although many delegates visit Queensland to take in the Great Barrier Reef, the Gold Coast has always been considered too far south to permit easy access. Seair Pacific, however, now offers delegates a relaxed day on Lady Elliott Island, the southernmost island of the reef, located near Gladstone.

The day begins with early morning complimentary transfers to the Gold Coast Airport, and in just over 90 minutes, guests arrive at Lady Elliot Island. Snorkelling gear, reef viewing from a glass-bottomed boat, and buffet lunch with seafood and drinks, are all included in the day tour.

If you are looking for Gold Cost conference venues or Gold Coast hotels there is no better resource than Dawsons website www.dawsons.com.au.