Island Gathering

Tasmania is one of the few unspoiled places left on earth. But don’t let that fool you – it is also a region offering world-class food and wine, sophisticated city life and memorable experiences.



In all corners of the island state, visitors will find stunning scenery, pristine beaches, magnificent rivers and wilderness walks, alongside some of the best gastronomic fare to be found anywhere. The capital, Hobart, is a small city steeped in history, with a lively working waterfront. In Australia’s second oldest city, after Sydney, you can touch the marks of a convict chisel on an old sandstone building, down a beer at a traditional pub, or stroll streets lined with original workers’ cottages in Battery Point. Shopping, nightlife, art and craft galleries and fine dining are all within easy reach, and every Saturday, buskers and artists gather in the historic Sullivans Cove precinct for the city’s Salamanca Market.

Tasmania is home to many first-class conference facilities and accommodation venues, often in inspiring locations, making conventions a $60 million industry for the state.



The Tasmania Convention Bureau is expecting a record year in 2005/2006, with forward bookings and a strong spring quarter in 2005 boding well for the industry.

Upcoming events include the Australian and New Zealand Society of Occupational Medicine Incorporated Annual Scientific Meeting in August 2006, with 120 delegates; the Australian Society of Fish Biology national conference in August/September 2006, with 250 delegates; the Citizen Advocacy National Conference in July/August 2007, with 100 delegates; and the AusIMM Underground Operator’s conference in April 2008, with 250 delegates.

The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel, which took out the 2004 and 2005 Tasmanian Tourism Award for Business Meetings and Tourism, has made some significant improvements to its food and beverage department, completed a major upgrade of its audiovisual equipment, and introduced a number of great-value conference packages starting from $20 per delegate.

The Henry Jones Art Hotel last year became the first Tasmanian hotel to win the Australian Hotel Association Best Overall Hotel in Australia award, the latest in a string of awards for the establishment since opening in June 2004.

Located on Hobart’s historic waterfront in a row of century-old sandstone warehouses and jam factories, the hotel is a hip combination of industrial edge and minimalist style, its walls adorned with works from the Tasmanian School of Art.

The IXL Long Bar is a funky, intimate meeting place available for functions, while the impressive Jones & Co Room caters for meetings or receptions for up to 200 guests. Friendly, first-class service complements inventive food prepared by The Steam Packet restaurant and for corporate occasions, state-of-the-art technology and expert advice is on hand.

>> Hobart conference venues >> Hobart hotels ... If you are looking for either hotel accommodation for your conference delegates or for a conference venue itself in Hobart, the Dawsons website contains all information needed.

Launceston, in northern Tasmania, has been chosen to host the 2006 Sustainable Economic Growth in Regional Australia (SEGRA) National Conference in August, a three day event which will bring an estimated $350,000 in revenue to the city. Tasmanian Convention Bureau chief executive Vincent Barron said the conference would allow Launceston and northern Tasmania to be promoted as a conference destination to more than 300 delegates, many of whom organise or attend other national conferences.

The conference will be held at the 165 room Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston, the city’s most extensive convention venue. It has 11 function rooms, including the Elm Convention Centre, which can host conferences of more than 500 delegates. The hotel has recently undertaken a refurbishment of its sixth floor, creating a new Superior Room category for guests.