NEWSLETTER    Vol 18, 10/2004
   
Hello,

Business continues to be brisk as we head into the last quarter of the year, lots of people still looking for space this side of December along with many more trying to find the right combinations for the January – April period in 2005 where there are lots of public holidays. You'll find a list of these holidays in the “Happenings” section below.

This month we feature a snapshot on New Zealand as an option for your next conference or meeting. Over the last few months we have seen an increase in interest in New Zealand for conferences and overall the destination offers good value, has a great variety of choices and is not that hard or expensive to get to.

A lot of changes happening around the country with new venues, name changes and planned new developments on the boards. One of the new additions to the Melbourne market will be the new RACV Club 501 Bourke Street project. A few of us from the office recently had the privilege of a hard hat tour of their Conference & Banquet Centre facilities and we were very impressed. The official opening date is to be announced shortly.

We continue this month with our educational breakfasts series. The breakfast being held in Melbourne will feature Queensland as a destination for conferences and meetings. Also in October we are hosting a site inspection in rural New South Wales for some of Sydney based clients. Let us know if you would like to be included in future events.

The Wednesday afternoon sailing has been interrupted lately by the weather but hopefully the weeks ahead will bring fair winds. October brings around the official opening of the sailing season and the start of weekend racing for the serious trophy hunters. Hope you find time to get out and enjoy your summer recreation or sport especially when daylight saving arrives.

Regards,

Jim Conway


 
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VENUE REVIEWS

Rural Country House

Set on a beautiful Southern Highlands estate amidst peaceful gardens, Peppers Manor House provides a grand country house experience that will ensure your conference is successful, memorable and fun. Built in 1926, the house was originally home to the Katers, a pioneering grazing family and has retained its original country charm.

Peppers Manor House offers 41 elegantly appointed rooms and suites each with a décor that is stylish, rich and full of character. Located just 90 minutes drive south of Sydney the retreat has 3 main meeting rooms accommodating up to 120 delegates.

Enjoy the taste of Peppers at Katers Restaurant featuring modern Australian cuisine with sumptuous dishes using the freshest produce from the Southern Highlands region and wines to match.

There is plenty to do at Peppers Manor House including golf on the adjacent Scottish-style Mount Broughton course, tennis and a variety of teambuilding activities.

For more information call Stephanie Conyers on +613 9870 4611


“Go often to the house of thy friend; for weeds soon choke up the unused path.”

- Proverb


By the Beach

The recently refurbished Cumberland Lorne Resort is situated in the heart of cosmopolitan Lorne on the spectacular Great Ocean Road , just under 2 hours drive from Melbourne .

The resort features 99 superbly appointed 1 and 2 bedroom and penthouse apartments all with private spa and balcony. Many rooms feature sweeping views of Lorne's famous surf beach.

Resort facilities include indoor heated pool and spa, sauna, tennis courts, squash courts, mountain bikes, surf equipment and kids club. Aqua restaurant and bar offers stunning bay views and a mediterrasian inspired menu.

One of the largest and most sophisticated purpose-built conference centres in Victoria, the Cumberland was designed to cater for conventions, conferences, product launches and trade displays. With 8 meeting rooms including a 350 seated tiered auditorium and outstanding technical support, this is the ideal location for your next conference.

With summer time approaching there is no better destination than Lorne and the Cumberland Lorne Resort

For more information call Sue Currie on +613 9870 4611


“If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere.”

- Frank Clark


Tropical Palm Cove's brand new beachfront resort…

The jewel of tropical North Queensland, Palm Cove lies at the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest… and is now home to the magnificent Sea Temple Resort & Spa.

Positioned on Triton Street , this outstanding resort is a luxurious fusion of modern design and Asian inspired simplicity, and the perfect solution for your next meeting, conference, incentive or special celebration.

Experience the delights and facilities of this tropical paradise! 126 extravagant apartments, penthouses and bures. There are also penthouses with rooftop spas, and bures with individual plunge pools. Indeed, many of the apartments offer direct “swim-out” access to a central swimming pool lagoon.

Three spectacular meeting rooms, all with natural light, plus a boardroom and outdoor area have a capacity for up to 150 delegates. These flexible and versatile spaces, and unique break-out areas are supported by a dedicated banqueting team to advise and guide you on all aspects of your conference or meeting complements.

Recreation has not been forgotten either with a choice of restaurants and bars, a grand lagoon swimming pool, an indulgent Sea Temple Day Spa, and large gymnasium. A host of local tourist attractions including championship golf courses balance the perfect event!

To find out more call Sue Wall on +613 9870 4611


Printable versions of our Conference Tips are available in PDF format at our online resource centre www.conferencesolutions.com.au/downloads.html



SHARING THE KNOWLEDGE

Our ongoing schedule of briefing sessions and venue inspections ensures our product knowledge is extensive and current which allows us to offer you, professional, authorative and independent advice on the conference and meeting venue scene Australia-wide.

BEEN IN TO SEE US

Diana Ng RG Hotel Sydney, Anouschka Douglas Hyatt Regency Auckland, Narelle Veal Hyatt Regency Coolum, Leigh Lewis Auckland Convention Bureau, Gina Demetriou The Grace Hotel, Jacqui Bridson Breakfree Resort Apartments, Jane Tanti Millennium Hotels, Abby Butterfield Stamford Plaza Adelaide, Troy Dowd Stamford Hotels and Resorts, Rohani Ezekiel Hyatt Hotel Canberra, Janine Boycon Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise, Rebecca Wiles Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Belinda Lee Duxton Hotel Melbourne and Sophie van Woerkom Aitken Hill.


YOUR SAY

I wish to provide you with some positive feedback regarding my experience using Key Conference Solutions for a 2 day National Sales Conference for 45 people. Within 24 hours I had received a fully detailed response by email and a phone call from Lisa.

It was a pleasure to deal with Lisa at Key Conference Solutions as she provided excellent customer service with her thoroughness, which certainly takes the weight off my shoulders and makes my life easier, not having to double check requirements.  In future I most certainly will phone as first point of call Key Conference Solutions.

Carol Lyons ~ ANZ


OUT AND ABOUT

On a regular basis our team members are out and about sampling first hand conference and meeting venues throughout Australia including The Cumberland Marysville, Westin Melbourne, Regent Theatre, Sheraton Towers Southgate, Grossi Florentino, Novotel Melbourne on Collins, Sofitel Melbourne, Mercure Melbourne, Cape Schanck Resort, Mansion at Werribee Park, Melbourne Marriott, Saville on Russell, CMA Centre, Crowne Promenade, Events @ Champions, Lake House, Rydges Riverwalk and Fenix.


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FOR SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT

Try New Zealand

Our very own Lisa Moloney recently spent some time in New Zealand and reports it is undeniably a breathtakingly beautiful destination for conferences and meetings.

Supported with exceptional world class conference venues, facilities and support services, inspiring hotels and stunning locations, New Zealand is in high demand.

 

Add to the mix New Zealanders' generousness of spirit and willingness to ensure your conference or meeting works ... and the result is an event that will live on with you, long after you have returned home. You can think New Zealand with confidence as the destination for your conference, meeting or event that will win a special place in the heart and mind of every delegate to set foot ashore.

There are specialist venues throughout New Zealand for small and large meetings, conferences and luxury lodges for corporate retreats where every equipment requirement can be met.

Adrenalin Action
River-sledging with boogie boards and wetsuits on spectacular rivers offers a new thrill in addition to the established favourite of white-water rafting.

Then there's spectacular snow-skiing and boarding, scuba-diving and skydiving, four-wheel-drive adventures, volcano tours, sand-dune skiing, paragliding, hang-gliding, trout fishing and more...

Feel like a bit less adrenalin? Relaxing options abound - tee off on one of the myriad of excellent golf courses, or go hiking (also known as tramping) or fishing. Take a vineyard or art tour, then unwind in a hot thermal pool. Explore Maori culture, or tune into New Zealand 's other multicultural experiences.

Stay in Style

Distinctive accommodation in diverse settings. International-standard hotels are found throughout the country, ensuring every comfort and luxury, and a full range of facilities and services for meetings and incentives.
 
Lodges are a key part of the New Zealand accommodation scene. Nestled deep in the forest, perched on a lake-edge or overlooking private beaches, the settings are as varied as the building styles, which include elegantly restored historic homesteads, eco-lodges and new architecturally-designed masterpieces.

The Kiwi Spirit

New Zealanders are renowned for their hospitality, determination and practical common sense. Whatever your conference or incentive needs, you can rest assured that the New Zealand way is to get the job done, stylishly and efficiently.

Whether your chosen meeting location is a city setting, overlooking a vineyard, small island paradise, aboard a chartered boat, or in a secluded lodge you will find New Zealand is a special and beautiful destination.

 

To find out more contact our resident NZ specialist Lisa Moloney on +613 9870 4611.

“The result of kindness is that it draws people to you.”

- Anita Roddick

 

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HAPPENINGS

Congratulations Gina Kanesoulis

Our congratulations go to Gina who attended Meeting Mart in Melbourne back in August and was the lucky winner of the Key Conference Solutions hamper.

Thanks to everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to visit our stand it was great for our team to catch up with you all on the day.

The Cumberland Marysville has announced plans for a day spa. The facility will include treatment rooms for massage and relaxation treatments, a 20 metre heated lap pool with areas for water treatment, exercise and therapy, a steam room and maybe even a plunge pool. Director Ann Cuzens advises the facility will provide a new and unique product offering to their conference and meeting guests. The day spa is planned to be open in mid 2005.

The battle to keep up with the changing names of Sydney hotels continues with the Wentworth Sydney rebranded as Sofitel Wentworth Sydney and All Seasons Premier Menzies now Menzies an Accor Hotel.

The Sebel Resort & Spa Hawkesbury Valley has been named Best Convention/Conference Accommodation in the Hotel, Motel & Accommodation Association NSW Industry Awards for Excellence.

Still in Sydney the Courtyard by Marriott North Ryde has opened for business. The hotel has 196 guest rooms and a wide range of conference and meeting space with the latest in technology including broadband communications access.

The way holidays fall in the first quarter of 2005 especially in Victoria, is causing some angst in planning conferences and meetings. A string of holidays through March and April is creating a lot of demand for January and February 2005.

The first four months in 2005 looks like this:

  • Term 1 25 January (teachers) 27 January (students) through to 1 April
  • Australia Day Wednesday 26 January
  • Melbourne Grand Prix should be 4-6 March
  • Labour Day Monday 14 March
  • Easter 25 March - 28 March
  • School Holidays start Monday 4 April
  • Term 2 starts Monday 18 April
  • Anzac Day Monday 25 April

Call Pam Conway for help in finding the right venue for your conference and meetings in 2005 on +613 9870 4611


“This thing we call ‘failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down.”
- John Brown


JOIN AUSTRALIA’S LEADING COMPANIES

Join Australia's leading companies that are taking advantage of the FREE venue-finding service Key Conference Solutions offers.

A.E. Smith & Son Pty Ltd, ANZ Banking Group Ltd, Australian Red Cross, Australian Wheat Board, Bendigo Bank, BUPA Australia Health Pty Ltd, Coles Myer Ltd, Department of Defence, Department of Justice, Financial Lifestyle Solutions, KPMG, Minter Ellison Lawyers, The Leadership Consortium, Orica Australia Pty Ltd, Institute of Materials Engineering Australasia, Pitcher Partners, Victorian Workcover Authority, Vision Systems Limited, Transfield Services ( Aust) Pty Ltd are just some of the companies who have chosen Key Conference Solutions to source venues throughout Australia, New Zealand and overseas for their business events.


“An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.”

- Friedrich Engels


CONTACT US:

Phone: +613 9870 4611 - Fax: +613 9870 4622

Sue Wall: Sales Consultant
swall@conferencesolutions.com.au

Lou David: Sales Consultant
ldavid@conferencesolutions.com.au

Pam Conway: Industry Consultant
pconway@conferencesolutions.com.au

Sue Currie: Sales Consultant
scurrie@conferencesolutions.com.au

Lisa Moloney: National Business Development Manager
lmoloney@conferencesolutions.com.au

  
Click here to visit the Key Conference Solutions website


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