Northern Territory’s growth rate is expected to outstrip Australia’s average over the next five years. With the opening of the Darwin Convention Centre and the massive $1.1bn waterfront development in 2008, it is a destination deserving close examination by event managers.
Indeed, what is it about Australia’s most northern city which is so appealing? The isolated big country town feel perhaps? That Territorian humour with a rebel edge and a “can do” attitude? Laid-back multiculturalism with strong influences of indigenous Australia and Asia? The remnants of a frontier environment? The fact that it is surprisingly cosmopolitan? Or quintessentially Australian?
The business events industry has its champions in The Territory. The Chief Minister is also the Tourism Minister and is very supportive of business events. Hold a famil for PCOs and Clare Martin is likely to make time to meet them. The chief executive of Tourism NT, Maree Tetlow, with her background experience in convention bureaux, also has a keen appreciation of business tourism. And NT Administrator Ted Egan, a larger than life character with a tourism background, is often willing to pitch in to host drinks for VIP events.
Need a road closed, or a marquee erected on public ground to cater for a special event. This is a town where one phone call can sort it out.
Everyone is connected. Locals see each other at Hanumans (Darwin’s famous Asian fusion restaurant), walking the dog on the beach, or at the Parap Markets on Saturday morning. The place is casual, light, and free. This feel can permeate into visiting delegates and make for a different event.
In 1998 the Meetings Industry Association of Australia (now MEA) held one of its most successful annual conferences in Darwin. Many delegates had never been to the city before and seemed to embrace the spirit of the place. There was a special buzz to the event.
Other organisers interviewed all spoke about the relaxed feel and casual atmosphere to their Darwin conferences.
Space is an issue, but lateral thinking and dry season outdoor options can overcome this. The destination is a squeeze for conferences over 500 pax with concurrents and a gala dinner. Marquees, including a large double-storey one with 1200 square metres per floor, often save the day.
But this space problem will evaporate once the new Darwin Convention Centre opens in 2008. Many associations rotating their large meetings around Australia will now be able to comfortably include Darwin on the schedule. Larger corporate events will be able to be accommodated. The comfortable upper limit will move from 500 to 1500 pax.
More hotels and serviced apartments are planned, including the Outrigger and Medina. An additional 700 rooms are expected by 2008, to add to the existing 1700 supply. But there is still no five-star hotel on the horizon. One hotelier remarked that it is a difficult seasonal environment to justify a five-star property. Maybe it isn’t needed. Some of the four-stars offer executive floors and many Darwin visitors opt for the more spacious serviced apartment or all-suites hotel experience.
Airline capacity and schedules can be challenging for the domestic event organiser looking for capacity on direct flights from the eastern capitals. Flight arrival and departure times at the 24-hour airport can mean the cost of extra nights accommodation. Pre and post touring may overcome this to some extent.
Looking north rather than south, Darwin is open for business from its near Asian neighbours. LCC Tiger Airways has introduced a Singapore/Darwin route, supplementing Qantas’ seat capacity. Other direct international flights cover Bali, Brunei, and Mumbai. Merpati and Airnorth service Kupang and Dilli. Royal Brunei provides a link to its hub Bandar Seri Bagawan, then onto Europe and other destinations.
These Asian routes offer conferences and exhibitions the opportunity to promote overseas attendances at Darwin events. Associations looking to expand their conferences to include Asian delegations may well find Darwin an ideal destination.
The NT government already has strong trade and freight links with its Asian neighbours and this provides a platform for business events. The Northern Territory holds the position of “Development Partner” in BIMP EAGA, which is Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East Asean Growth Area, representing a total population of 57.5 million and one of the largest consumer and manufacturing regional groupings in Southeast Asia.
The energy and resource boom provides another plank. APEC’s energy ministers meet in Darwin’s Parliament House in March 07. SEAOC (South East Asian Oil Conference) is held in Darwin every year.
Depth of experience
The local meetings industry is not large, but often surprises visiting clients with the depth of professionalism and breadth of services.
“Overcoming the `south’ perceptions is something we are used to dealing with,” says Kerrie Alterator from Top End Sounds.
Flexibility, warmth and creativity seem to be the hallmarks of the locals. Top End Sounds’ GM Colin West ‘s trademark comment of “We do everything but sex and flowers” belies a clever operator whose team stages special events, mounts exhibitions and marquees, and loves a challenge, from an overwater platform built at the sailing club for a 500-person dinner to an African-themed evening at Crocodilus Park. PCOs Treasure and Adam Gordon handle a wide range of projects from local co-ordinating work for organisations wanting experience on the ground, to operating the bed-bank for the Arafura Games, to full service conference management for numerous government and association events. While there is some solid local business, particularly government meetings, they admit repeat business for national and international work is hard to come by. They are looking forward to the opening of the convention centre.
Relative newcomer to Darwin, Malu Barrios, general manager for the new Darwin Convention Centre, has taken to the place like a duck to water. Her creative head is brimming with ideas for potential clients looking at Darwin as an option. Smart enough to know the centre does not stand alone, Malu is enthusiastic about the unique possibilities of the destination. With a strong F&B and operational background, Malu is already proving a well-connected powerhouse who will be an asset to any centre client.
Off-site and year-long
Off-site outdoor functions are almost mandatory for the dry season. Dinner at the famous Mindil Beach Markets or afterwards on the lawn at Sky City, cocktails at the Art Gallery and Museum or perhaps in the foyer of Parliament House, dinner and music in the Botanical Gardens or a seafood extravaganza out on Stokes Wharf are all options. The challenge for the tourism and business events industry is to make Darwin a year-round capital city destination, not just one that shines in the dry season. Extending the season beyond May to September is the next step. The Top End in the wet season. Why not?
Something different
Post tour river adventure - You could do the Yellow Waters Cruise at Kakadu – a memorable experience, especially at sunrise or sunset. Or you could take a light plane flight over the escarpment of Arnhem Land, dipping for a jaw dropping look at Jim Jim and Twin Falls. Or maybe take the river cruise up the towering Katherine Gorge. Great experiences, but let’s face it, it’s for sissies. If you are looking to immerse yourself in the Top End, adventure options await you. Try kayaking down the Katherine River for a few days. The award-winning family business, Gecko Tours, takes guided tours down the river. You don’t need to be an experienced kayaker, although you’ll need to be on your toes if the river is “pushing along” early in the season. This is an experience worthy of bragging over dinner back in town. Campfires on the river banks, the occasional croc and rapids for an adrenalin rush. As your guide says when you slide your kayak back out into the river each morning – “it’s all about getting in the zone”. Visit www.geckotours.com.au for details.
Feathers Sanctuary - Perhaps you have a small incentive group, or FIT incentives, looking for somewhere very different, very private and very exclusive. Darwin seems to attract unusual characters and host Peter McGrath certainly fits the bill. He operates a unique eco B&B in an upmarket suburban area in Darwin. The four luxury “huts” on his beautiful two acre property offer an exceptional experience. A keen ornithologist, Peter has aviaries dotted over the property: open one hut window to find rare Gouldian finches flitting about. Brolgas and jabirus wander around the lawn. Pygmy geese bob on the pond. A sublime retreat for those happy to be away from the bustle of downtown. Visit www.featherssanctuary.com for details.
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