Indulgent pleasures

Delegates will find there’s no shame in hankering for a sun-and-sand destination such as the famed Gold Coast.

The Gold Coast extends some 70 kilometres along the south-east Queensland coastline. For generations of Australians there has been no better, more enjoyable holiday spot, and in recent times it has captured an increasing share of the conference market. The attraction is easy to understand.



In short, it’s sun, sand and an almost hedonistic enjoyment. The Gold Coast basks in more than 300 days of sunshine each year. From Coolangatta in the south, through such remarkable spots as Burleigh Heads and Broadbeach to Surfers Paradise, Main Beach and Southport, the region sparkles with life. Aside from the beaches, there are 440 kilometres of waterways and river systems, while offshore, South Stradbroke, North Stradbroke and Morton islands hold their own special charms.
In 2005, the Gold Coast hosted more than 1,500 meetings, attracting 120,000 delegates. This resulted in some $200 million being injected into the local economy. In November, the spotlight will again fall on the region when it hosts the prestigious Dreamtime international incentive event.

Staying alive
There is perhaps a greater range of accommodation choices for delegates than in any other Australian destination. The indulgent pleasures of top 5 star resorts are certainly abundant, while the price-conscious will find their facilities no less comfortable.

What will be standard across all types of accommodation is the view – glorious beaches, fantastic sunrises and sunsets – and a balmy climate that is the true measure of the beach destination.



And if the bronzed bodies of the locals are too much of a distraction, try an executive retreat in the Hinterland, the famed “green” behind the “gold”, part of some 100,000 hectares of national parks and reserves in the region. The World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park has 4,000-year-old trees amongst its rainforest wonders. The poetry of birdcall amidst the deep green canopy takes delegates back to the beginning of time; the worry of meeting sales targets shrinks into insignificance in contrast to such surroundings.

The Gold Coast has many worlds – Sea World, Dreamworld, Warner Bros Movie World, Wet‘n’Wild Water World, and other such themed attractions that are enormously popular with conference groups. A fair dinkum Aussie good time can be had at Paradise Country and the Australian Outback Spectacular. Delegates can swim with dolphins, watch polar bears at play and have specially arranged aquatic shows presented while they dine at Sea World. Such movie characters as Batman and Scoobie Doo can be roped into providing an entertaining evening.

>> Conference & meeting venues in Gold Coast

A considerable choice
What else is there to do on the Gold Coast? What isn’t would be a better question. There are more than 40 resort and championship standard golf courses, designed by such famous names as Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Arnold Palmer. Hundreds of restaurants, bars and nightclubs line the streets. There are health retreats and day spas for pampering or honing healthy lifestyle choices for harried executives. Or how about hang-gliding, hot-air ballooning, helicopter flights or ripping across the skies in a vintage aircraft. Delegates can be transported to their gala dinners in fleets of limousines or classic cars, or as pillion passengers with a flotilla of leather-clad bikers. Beach Olympics or a surf carnival organised by one of the local surf life saving organisations are also sure-fire hits.

Gold Coast Airport handled more than 3.5 million passengers in 2005, with more than 35 flights a day. Delegates can jet directly into the Gold Coast from Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle, Cairns and Adelaide, while international delegates can access it from such destinations as Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong with Australian Airlines, and New Zealand with Freedom Air, Jetstar and Pacific Blue. In addition, the Skytrain from Brisbane Airport provides a direct service with Gold Coast hotels via limousine transfers.

All things considered, the Gold Coast isn’t just a destination. It’s a spectacular place for conventions and meetings.