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Meeting In Melbourne
Melbourne’s success as a convention destination
is firmly established, but interest from the international market has
boomed after the announcement of an upgrade of the city’s major convention
venue.
>> Conference
& meeting venues Melbourne
The
Melbourne Convention Centre development has already attracted business
for 2010 and 2011, with four high profile international conventions already
secured. The International Congress of Internal Medicine, International
Congress of Applied Psychology, World Congress on Human Reproduction and
International Botanical Conference will collectively bring 11,000 delegates
to Melbourne and provide economic benefits valued at $61 million for Victoria’s
economy.
Construction of the new centre, to be linked to the
existing Melbourne Exhibition Centre, will create the most advanced convention
facility in the Southern Hemisphere. The centre will have a 5,000 seat
flexible plenary hall, as well as a ballroom, meetings rooms and banqueting
facilities. A pedestrian bridge will link the convention centre precinct
to the north side of the Yarra River.
On average, delegates visiting Victoria spend $506 each day on accommodation,
restaurants and visits to tourist attractions. Once the centre opens,
Victoria’s economy stands to gain additional annual delegate spending
of an estimated $129 million.
When complete, the convention and exhibition precinct will be the last
major development along the Yarra River waterfront, adding a new dimension
to the riverside architecture.
With around 5.4 million delegates visiting Melbourne last year, business
events are valued at more than $1 billion and are one of the state’s
fastest growing tourism sectors.
The city stages some of Australia’s major events. Many of these are
held at the Melbourne
and Olympic Parks precinct, which encompasses two world-class arenas –
Rod Laver Arena and Vodafone Arena – as well as Olympic Park Stadium,
Melbourne Park Function Centre and Café Arena. Only a five minute
stroll from the CBD, the precinct is ideal for product launches, corporate
entertainment, exhibitions, conferences or cocktail parties.
With innovation, creativity, flexibility and professionalism, catering
service, Artistic, provides services above and beyond the usual food and
beverage catering. Using only fresh seasonal produce, Artistic caters
for 20 to 2,000 guests for luncheons, themed dinners, corporate events
and conferences, either at a workplace or an external venue. Using more
than 40 unique venues, Artistic also provides staff for events, as well
as state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and support.
Convention organisers looking for venues on the fringe of the CBD have
many choices.
In 2006, Hotel Y in Elizabeth Street will become Melbourne’s newest
3½ star hotel when it undergoes a $4.5 million renovation of its
existing guestrooms, 10 conference rooms and public areas, as well as
the addition of more guestrooms. Located near the famous Queen Victoria
Market, the hotel has 60 guestrooms, including one bedroom apartments.
Groups are well catered for with a lounge available free of charge for
meetings and briefings.
Melbourne Business School at Carlton – close to Melbourne University
and the Lygon Street precinct – offers a range of fully equipped
theatres and meetings rooms, as well as comfortable accommodation for
conferences, training seminars and management retreats.
Theatre capacities range from 20 to 150 and all are equipped with modern
audiovisual equipment, with technical staff on hand. Syndicate rooms are
suited to small workshops or break-out groups of up to eight people.
Also close to Melbourne University is the 100 room 3½ star Comfort
Hotel Elizabeth Tower, which is at the top of Elizabeth Street, just one
kilometre from the city centre and 14 from the airport. The hotel has
easy access to all major venues and is a short walk from attractions like
the Queen Victoria Markets and Lygon Street.
The Downtowner On Lygon, located between Melbourne’s city centre
and the vibrant cafe and fashion precinct of Carlton, offers value-added
packages, including tickets to sports and entertainment events and admission
to some of Melbourne’s major tourist attractions. Indulgence packages
may be just the thing for delegates to relax after the hard work of conferencing.
At Bayside St Kilda, the 70 room 3½ star Comfort Hotel Crest on
Barkly is just eight minutes from the city centre and a short walk to
attractions like Albert Park Lake, the beach and Luna Park.
New ownership, management, revamped facilities and new packages have created
many changes at the Airport Motel & Convention Centre, just a few
minutes from Melbourne Airport, and only 20 minutes from the CBD.
Beston Parks Management have put together a new team, who have revamped
the decor and ambience of the 103 motel rooms, as well as the convention
centre, which can cater for up to 300 delegates.
