Destination Gold Coast Business Events representative Bernadette Thoroughgood will be at the Business Events Expo on November 21 to showcase the latest business event products the Gold Coast has to offer.

Melbourne’s premier airport hotel, PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport, has revealed an extensive multi-million-dollar refurbishment to further enhance its appeal as the ultimate gateway for domestic and international travellers, and elevate its offering as a business event destination.

Event Centre at The Star Brisbane

Brisbane largest hotel ballroom – the Event Centre at The Star Brisbane – is now welcoming bookings for April 2024 onwards.

Part of Brisbane’s A$3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf precinct, the 3,500 sqm (37,674 sq. ft) venue’s ballroom has the capacity to host 2,000 guests. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the Brisbane city skyline and an exclusive outdoor terrace offers views of the iconic Story Bridge.

Taking inspiration from Queensland’s subtropical landscape, the ballroom’s perforated gold ceiling replicates dappled light breaking through the rainforest canopy, as a nod to Brisbane’s natural surrounds.

The venue also offers six additional breakout rooms and a business centre.

Sydney will be the host city for the International Congress of the Transplantation Society in 2026. Returning to Sydney for the third time, the event is expected to bring an estimated 3,000 delegates to the International Convention Centre (ICC Sydney) across four days.

Business Events Sydney CEO Lyn Lewis Smith says Sydney is recognised for its expertise and high standard of care in transplantation and is home to several research centres and groups. “We can’t wait to showcase our burgeoning health precincts and the transplanters who are true global talents in their field,” she says.

The bid to secure the congress was supported by Tourism Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund Program.

Heritage-listed GPO (General Post Office) building has been transformed into a dining destination after a 12-month, A$9 million renovation.

The 80-seater restaurant Tama has taken up residence on the ground floor, boasting double-storey windows, chandeliers, marble and stone features. The restaurant’s main drawcard is a charcoal powered Josper oven that allows the chefs to grill, roast and smoke locally sourced meats and vegetables over coals at temperatures of up to 450 degrees Celsius.

The building’s original staircase leads guests upstairs to The Gatsby, a sleek cocktail bar boasting a 74-page drinks menu that features more than 400 spirits. The building’s third venue – The Tax Office – is a multi-room bar, restaurant and late-night hotspot which is available for exclusive use for up to 150 guests seated or 470 guests, cocktail-style.

Cairns Convention Centre lifts the curtain on its new expansion, revealing a new standard for international and domestic conferences and events.

The Queensland Government in Australia has invested $176 million in the refurbishment and expansion of the city’s international convention centre.

Already an eco-tourism hotspot, Cairns is set to further capitalise on the lucrative international Business Events sector with a renewed convention facility that complements the region’s natural, pristine beauty.

The award-winning Centre, which has been operated by ASM Global since it opened in 1996, will now be able to host multiple events as well as larger conferences requiring multiple break out spaces.

ASM Global (Asia Pacific) Chairman and Chief Executive, Harvey Lister AM, says the Centre’s expansion and refurbishment would deliver significant economic benefits to the Cairns economy over the next decade and beyond.

“The expansion will enhance Cairns’ standing as a world leader in hosting business events.  Cairns Convention Centre is on track to host 160 events this financial year, including 60 conferences bringing more than 35,000 delegates to Cairns, delivering a visitor spend of over $100 million into the region,” added Mr Lister.

 The state-of-the-art expansion delivers an extra 10,500 sqm of meeting, banquet and exhibition space featuring:

• Exhibition area with space for 30 booths
• 450-seat theatre-style plenary lecture space that can be divided into two
• Three large meeting rooms that can be configured into multiple sizes
• 500-capacity Trinity Room banquet space
• Outdoor terrace
• Spacious lobby for pre-event functions

A key part of the expansion is the Trinity Room and Terrace level, offering unparalleled views over Trinity Inlet. The significant expansion project also includes a large undercover Porte Cochere planted with native, tropical flora that can also be used as a function space.

Clients hosting their events at the Cairns Convention Centre can take advantage of the latest audio-visual equipment, contemporary interiors and new building systems for seamless event delivery and experience.

Cairns Convention Centre, general manager, Janet Hamilton said the refurbished and expanded centre was poised to welcome event organisers and delegates from across Australia and the world.

“We are already receiving positive reactions to the new spaces, with clients impressed with the contemporary design and light filled areas that feature our lush, tropical rainforest in the background,” Ms Hamilton said.  “We sit at the heart of one of the world’s most beautiful destinations and great care and consideration was taken to bringing the natural environment into the Centre’s spaces. From our open spaces with floor to ceiling windows, to our stunning Trinity Room and Terrace with views across the inlet, the Centre showcases Cairns’ natural assets.”

Cox Architecture Director Richard Coulson who led the design team (with local collaborators CA Architects) for the refurbishment and expansion of the Cairns Convention Centre said this project stands out amongst the rest of the world’s convention centres due to its mix of sophistication, modern technology, and relaxed ‘truly Cairns’ sensibility.

“The Centre is a very sophisticated building. The technology is quite remarkable. Yet it feels like a place of Cairns, which has a renowned, relaxed lifestyle,” Mr Coulson said.  “This expansion has allowed a richness which is quite rare for these spaces. It is open, generous and flexible and yet intimate at the same time. And that's what Tropical North Queensland is as a destination.”

More than 100 incentive practitioners came together in Sydney in August for the SITE ANZ chapter’s annual conference to share knowledge about the sector’s changing landscape. 

Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne has opened its new-look ballroom and conference space.

ICMS Australasia (ICMSA) celebrated two wins at the Australian Event Awards held in Sydney last night, being named PCO of the Year and Event Management Company of the Year.

Buoyed by the rise of Australian corporates heading offshore for meetings and incentives, Tourism Portfolio has expanded its international DMC network, adding destinations including the UAE, Morocco, South Africa and Brazil in recent weeks.

The Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation is gifting a new name to what has been known as Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre returning Wadawurrung language to country.

Around 80 event planners, professional conference organisers and media representatives from Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia will experience the Gold Coast’s best business events offerings this week (14 – 16 August) for the ninth This is Gold Coast 2023 (TIGC23).

Australia’s leading event planners have been gifted a tree to increase the habitat of tree kangaroos on the Atherton Tablelands.

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), Australia’s largest convention centre have announced the launch of its new website, the first step towards developing an omnichannel customer experience.

The Society of Incentive Travel Excellence ANZ one-day conference will be held in Sydney on Monday, August 7.

The Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre precinct development has just released proposed designs.

Destination Gold Coast’s business events signature familiarisation This is Gold Coast 2023 (TIGC23) is gearing up to showcase the best example of venues, culture and experiences for event planners, professional conference organisers and media representatives. 

The Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) has appointed  Melissa Brown as its inaugural CEO.

Joyn, an event technology platform, has acquired Arinex,the business event management company to form Arinex Group.

For the first time in history, the International World Mining Congress has been held in Australia.  The association was formed in Europe in 1958.