MARVELLOUS MELBOURNE

Melbourne’s celebration of the better things in life is reflected in a rich cultural tapestry embracing the visual and performing arts, museums, festivals, wine and gastronomy.

Running a meeting in Melbourne and its surrounds gives access to all this proud city enjoys throughout the year, being its musical theatre, horse racing, cricket and seemingly endless array of events large and small.

There’s also a hip-pocket advantage to having your meeting in Melbourne. Where you might be obliged to lay on coach transfers for your delegates in other cities, Melbourne’s main hotel and entertainment precincts are all conveniently located within walking distance of one another on either side of the Yarra River.

>> Conference & meeting venues Melbourne, VIC

Much of the charm of Melbourne is to be discovered in its laneways, where cafes, restaurants, delis, galleries and speciality shops have mushroomed to meet the needs of well-heeled Melburnians who’ve opted to live in the inner city or the revitalised Docklands.

Right now, a new convention centre is under construction, which in 2009 will provide Australia’s largest and most versatile conference and exhibition venue at the point where Southbank meets Docklands. Your out-of-town delegates will find much to discover by exploring the streets of the central business district by day or night.

Melburnians are among the keenest sports spectators on the planet and have endowed the city over the decades with world-class sporting facilities, which can also be used to great effect for meetings and corporate hospitality.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground, which completed a $400 million upgrade for the Commonwealth Games last year, offers event planners top-quality function space.

The nearby Melbourne and Olympic Park includes the Rod Laver Arena, epicentre of the Australian Tennis Open. It gives meeting planners some excellent options for social events.

The Royal Exhibition Building and Federation Square are Melbourne landmarks, representing 19th and 21st century Melbourne, and both holding promise for elegant or extravagant events. Federation Square has become the de facto informal meeting place for the city and it draws the crowds to enjoy its galleries and the bars and restaurants located conveniently across the road from Flinders Street Station.

Melbourne is renowned for the variety of major events that dot its calendar. These can often form part of the social program for a corporate or association meeting. They include the Australian Open, Formula One Grand Prix, Melbourne Festival, Writers’ Festival, Melbourne Art Fair, Good Food & Wine Festival, International Comedy Festival, Fashion Week, Spring Racing Carnival, including the Melbourne Cup, and the Umbria Jazz Festival.

Melbourne’s shopping opportunities are on the scale of one of the great cities of Europe. Apart from the fantastic department stores, there’s a wealth of specialty shops offering an eclectic mix of fashion, accessories, rare books and a multitude of collectables. Aspirant fashion designers get a chance to have their creations on show at Alice Euphemia in the Cathedral Arcade in Swanston Street. Around 80 clothing and accessory designers are given exposure. Labels include Obus, Ammo and Mien, while the cabinets of contemporary jewellery attract their share of fingerprints.

Melbourne is also a city of markets, the premier site being the Queen Victoria Markets, which have been in existence since that grand lady ruled her global empire. In the summer months, the market is open in the evening and can be easily used in a conference dine-around. There are also markets at Prahran, South Melbourne and Federation Square, where a book market is held every Saturday from 11am to 4pm.

All the aspects that make Melbourne one of the world’s most liveable cities add to the quality of your business or association meeting.