<< Back

The long anticipated wait for the launch of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre’s (GCCEC) new website is officially over. The new website has been designed to be the centre’s interactive and dynamic new marketing tool. The content rich site now provides all the information that event planners, delegates and the media ever wanted to know about the centre. The latest information on the destination, events, news and much more, in the most simplistic format, will be showcased in the latest of web design. The project was a creative collaboration between the GCCEC and local website designing company Creative Infusion. In total there was a team of six, three from the GCCEC and three from Creative Infusion. Total construction and testing took 280 ‘working’ hours plus additional time for research and meetings. The project was initiated in November 2005 to replace the previous pre-opening website and was soft-launched in March 2006. GCCEC marketing and PR manager Jason Oakes said the centre’s national and international clients were in the forefront of the project manager’s mind when designing the site to cater for their needs.

ABOVE: Creative Infusion and GCCEC team - from left to right: (Jason Oakes; Luke Brown; Mark Goudie; Carl Wildman; Nathan Wright; Ashley Glenister; Tobias Black)

At its recent AGM, The Exhibition & Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) elected new committee members to join existing members. The priority for the new committee will be continuing to implement the initiatives put in place during the past 12 months under the EEAA’s ‘Blueprint for the Future’. EEAA chief executive officer Mark Baker said the Blueprint was developed as a result of industry consultation to establish the key issues where the Association should focus its efforts and resources. Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre CEO Robert O’Keeffe continues as president of EEAA. Other office bearers are vice-president Robert Moore, ExpoService; treasurer Domenic Genua, Boating Industry Association of NSW; and secretary Todd Blake, Diversified Exhibitions Australia (formerly Australian Exhibition Services). These office bearers will be supported by committee members representing all sectors of the industry - organisers, suppliers and venues. They are Fraser Bayne (Expohire); Greg Chambers (Exhibition Hire); Chris Connelly (Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre); Gary Fitz-Roy (Expertise Events); Helen Mantellato (Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre); Edward Owens (dmg world media); Roger Perkins (Sydney Showground); Rick Smith, (AE Displays); and New Zealand member, Dona White (North Port Events). Further information: www.eeaa.com.au

Business tourism is on the rise with the number of business tourists to Australia increasing by 14 per cent in 2005, a recent analysis of the latest ABS figures released in June by the Australian Government reveals. In 2005, 735,400 business tourists arrived in Australia, an increase of 89,900 or 14 per cent on 2004. Key results include Canada (13,100), up 17 per cent; China (66,100), up 20 per cent; Germany (15,500), up 13 per cent; India (17,300), up 40 per cent; and the United States (93,500) up 11 per cent. Minister for Small Business and Tourism Fran Bailey said business tourism gives Australia maximum bang for its buck. “Thousands of business tourists descend on Australia each year, spend up big attending conferences then visiting regional Australia for a few days’ rest,” she said.

Brisbane’s status as an up-and-coming hub of arts and creativity has been confirmed with news that the city will host the 2008 World Dance Congress and Global Summit. Ausdance Queensland, with the assistance of Brisbane Marketing, put forward the successful bid for the congress that is set to attract more than 1000 international delegates and inject $2.4 million into the local economy. Brisbane Marketing director of business development, Paul Lewin, said the win was a great result for the city and was further proof of Brisbane’s reputation as a destination of international standing. “Brisbane is a modern, dynamic destination with a youthful spirit, great convention and meeting facilities and a complete package of leisure activities. It embodies the great Australian destination,” he said.

Australian Exhibition Services has announced it will now be known as Diversified Exhibitions Australia, aligning with its US parent company Diversified Business Communications. The re-branding is a further step toward consolidating Diversified Exhibitions Australia’s position as one of Australia’s leading exhibition organisers, and part of a global network spanning four continents. Since the formation of Australian Exhibition Services (AES) in 1982, the company has organised more than 400 successful exhibitions and gained a reputation for delivering expertly managed, large-scale trade and consumer exhibitions of the highest calibre in key market sectors. This successful track-record and extensive portfolio resulted in its acquisition by Diversified Business Communications in 2000.

One of Australia’s most respected audio visual and theming companies, Solution RED, enters a new chapter with the announcement that its two directors have acquired total ownership of the company.
Directors Rhona Walker and Gerald Whittle have bought out the company’s minority shareholders, resulting in them jointly holding 100 per cent of the company. Announcing details of the purchase, managing director Rhona Walker explained that the time was right for the company to consolidate its holdings and this will enable senior colleagues to invest in Solution RED. “We have had support from a number of parties since Solution RED was created in May 2001, but the relevance of those relationships has decreased as the business has grown in strength,” Ms Walker said.

It is out with the old and in with the new as the Top End’s award-winning property Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge launches its new and improved website. Travellers and conference organisers seeking a destination that immerses guests in adventure and the beauty of Australia’s Top End will find more detailed information on the lodge and enjoy the convenience of a fresher and easier to navigate website when they access the homepage at www.sevenspiritbay.com The new website is a one-stop-shop for anyone researching the property and the activities it offers, according to Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge sales and marketing manager Tracey Vince.

Exhibitions and Trade Fairs Pty Limited (ETF) is set to become part of the Staging Connections group following the signing of an agreement to acquire the business between Staging Connections’ parent company, AAV Limited and ETF’s owner, ACP Magazines. According to Bill Davidson, managing director of Staging Connections, the acquisition of ETF is part of the company’s ongoing strategy of moving into adjacent markets, and expanding its geographical reach. “ETF has an established reputation spanning over 25 years as a leading exhibition organiser and manager specialising in trade shows and consumer exhibitions,” Mr Davidson said. “As a result of the ETF acquisition, we take on some very talented staff, a well established exhibition business, and a range of synergistic opportunities for Staging Connections’ Australasian operations.” ETF specialises in developing, managing and organising both tradeshows and consumer exhibitions. Some of ETF’s 2006 shows include The Fishing Show and Outdoors Expo, National 4x4 Show, Sydney on Sale, ENTECH, Australian International Motor Show, and Sydney Motorcycle Show. ETF’s major shows for 2007 include ACE, Auspack and the prestigious triennial International Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). As part of the Staging Connections group, ETF managing director Ben Ashton and his strong management team will continue to focus on growing ETF’s tradeshow and consumer exhibitions business. The acquisition of ETF is expected to be formalised by September, 2006.

Cairns Convention Centre managing director Geoff Donaghy welcomed Cairns’ ranking in the World Top 100 Convention Cities saying it was another pleasing endorsement of the destination’s emerging global reputation and standing. “With many new convention centres being built around the world, competition to attract these important events is becoming more intense each year. Aggressive marketing is needed by both the city and convention centre to achieve these ratings which contribute greatly to profile and recognition on the world stage,” Mr Donaghy said. Other Australian cities to feature in the ICCA Top 100 were Brisbane and Perth.

AIME has launched its new advertising campaign for 2007 with some big expectations of the event to come. ‘See the Big Ideas First’ is the theme that will run through the entire campaign, focusing on both the enormous growth of AIME as an international business event, and the wide range of products and ideas on show each year. Designed by Euro RSCG 4D, the campaign addresses how AIME is the place to see all the big ideas in event planning. AIME 2007, the 15th AsiaPacific Incentives & Meetings Expo will be held on February 13 and 14 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. AIME event director, Rosemarie Sama, said she was delighted with the campaign for AIME 2007. “Feedback about AIME 2006 has been excellent, particularly in relation to the quality of the audience and the seminar program. AIME 2007 will deliver even more, with a great new education program and more than 100 new exhibitors expected,” she said. Reed Travel Exhibitions is predicting exhibitor numbers of more than 850 and a total audience in excess of 2700 for AIME 2007. To exhibit, or to apply to be a hosted buyer visit the AIME website - www.aime.com.au.

Rotary International has appointed Conference Online as its preferred supplier for all its conferences and events. Rotary International is probably the largest not-for-profit group which holds a multitude of conferences around Australia. According to Conference Online, Rotary approached the company to find a solution to a dilemma – finding a system to cope with every chapter within Rotary changing their committees regularly and continually recreating ways to manage their conferences. They had tried manual forms, developing spreadsheets, buying in-house software plus upgrading computers. Rotary International now uses the Conference Online registration and reporting system. Its first conference using the system is for 1000 delegates in Canberra.

One of New Zealand’s leading corporate team event management companies, CluedUp, has opened a Melbourne office, headed by Amber Pratt. CluedUp aims to work closely with meeting and event planners to deliver stimulating breakout sessions and team events. For details visit www.cluedup.com.au

Delegates on a recent mice.net and Virgin Blue famil to Townsville and North Queensland were impressed to discover that whether it’s a reef, rainforest, island or outback adventure or a combination of all, North Queensland offers the perfect playground for exploring. Historical Charters Towers saw delegates searching for the `Ghosts of Gold’ and trying their luck at gold panning, while beautiful Magnetic Island provided the perfect backdrop for a team-building activity with a difference as they embarked on a moke rally to discover the island. Townsville is also a base for tours to tropical rainforests with mountain streams and waterfalls, or visitors can hire their own vehicle and explore the Great Tropical Drive.  Snorkel and dive the Great Barrier Reef with day trips on the Reef Cat departing from Townsville. For more information about touring options in Townsville and the North Queensland region visit Townsville Enterprise Convention Bureau’s online Event Planner at www.townsvilleonline.com.au/conventions/planner or contact their sales and marketing coordinator on (07) 4726 2732.

ABOVE: mice.net famil participants in Charters Towers on Magnetic Island.

The Cairns & Region Convention Bureau’s Sell TNQ Workshops are coming up in November, giving planners an opportunity to register as hosted buyers. The workshops are dedicated to promoting Tropical North Queensland’s business tourism facilities to a growing convention and incentive market. The first Sell TNQ 2006 workshop was held in May in Palm Cove and Port Douglas with post-touring in Cairns. A second workshop will be held in November in Cairns with post-touring in Palm Cove and Port Douglas. The hosted buyer program provides participants with complimentary: Return airfares, accommodation for up to three nights, exciting and informative TNQ networking evenings, face-to-face meetings with suppliers of your choice, an optional post-touring program. To register your expression of interest to participate in the November workshop to be held in Cairns please log onto www.selltnq.com