MARCH'S FEATURED VENUES
Yering Gorge - Yarra Valley
In the heart of the beautiful Yarra Valley, Yering Gorge Cottages is an ideal venue for your next small business event. The Yering Room conference / function room can accommodate conferences and meetings with appropriate seating, tables and AV support to make your overnight conference an outstanding success. Ideal for groups of around 12, you can relax with a drink after the day's work on the expansive decks or play golf adjacent to the property. Visits to local restaurants and wineries can be arranged as part of their comprehensive overnight conference package. The secluded one and two bedroom cottages provide tranquil views of the Yarra River and nearby Yering Gorge. The property offers the peace and quiet of untouched bushland where native birds and kangaroos feed in the nearby river valley.
Read more detailed information about Yering Gorge or contact Rachel Buck +613 9870 4611
Quay West Resort Noosa
Ideally located on absolute waterfront overlooking Noosa Sound and 9 hectares of a protected conservation sanctuary, Quay West Resort Noosa will be the perfect destination for relaxing escapes, meetings and conferences when it opens in September. Close to Noosa's famous restaurants, shops, cafés and galleries when complete, this magnificent 5-star resort will offer a choice of 1, 2 & 3 bedroom fully self-contained apartments and villas featuring prestigious fittings and fixtures. The perfect location for a conference, meeting, seminar, incentive or product launches with a capacity to cater for a range from 20 - 200 delegates featuring state of the art technical equipment and the latest in meeting facilities and breakout areas including a dedicated covered terrace area and alfresco lagoon areas.
Read more detailed information about Quay West Resort Noosa or contact Pam Conway +613 9870 4611
HAPPENINGS
Brand revamp
Accor's luxury brand, Sofitel, is currently implementing an extensive brand revamp and hotel network re-design. The French hospitality group has now expanded the Sofitel lineup with two new brands - SO by Sofitel and Sofitel Legend. Recently Sofitel has eliminated some properties from its portfolio.
New Crowne Plaza for Doncaster
InterContinental Hotels Group has signed a management contract with investors represented by Grace on Doncaster Group, to establish Crowne Plaza Doncaster Hill in Melbourne. Scheduled for completion in 2011, the hotel of approximately 150 rooms will be approximately 15 minutes east of the Melbourne CBD. The hotel's facilities will include a ballroom and naturally lit meeting space, a fitness centre with an outdoor pool, and an all day dining restaurant and bar.
Hamilton Island
The two magnificent new facilities, Hamilton Island Yacht Club and Hamilton Island Golf Course will be officially opened as part of the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week to be held in August. These initiatives continue on from other recent developments on the Island with the opening of the final stage of Qualia, Australia's newest luxury resort on the Great Barrier Reef, and the extensive refurbishment of the iconic Reef View Hotel.
Sebel rebrands in Sydney
Following a multimillion-dollar transformation, the Citigate Sebel Sydney has been rebranded as The Sebel Surry Hills Sydney. Presenting 270 deluxe and superior guestrooms and suites, chic Townhouse Bar & Restaurant, brand new signature restaurant, spectacular lobby with unique glass floor aquarium housing the beautiful Japanese Koi fish, and naturally lit meeting rooms.
In flight mobile phone service
In its illustrious history of reshaping air travel, Ryanair has totted up many firsts. The Independent.co.uk's Cahal Milmo has written a summary of Ryanair's new in-flight phone service. Click here
New boutique hotel in Brisbane
The Portal is a modern, edgy 4 star alternative to traditional hotel chains, providing relaxed, affordable accommodation without compromising style and service, said general manager Michael Stimpson. Designed by Cottee Parker Architects, the Portal has seven floors, 84 rooms and at street level The O Bar & Restaurant.
Starwood adds three
Powering ahead in key markets across the globe, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, has announced plans to open three new hotels in Saudi Arabia. Starwood has signed a long-term management agreement with the Alhokair Group to open Four Points by Sheraton Mall of Arabia in Jeddah, Four Points by Sheraton Dhahran and Aloft Riyadh. The addition of these three new properties increases Starwood's portfolio to 13 hotels in Saudi Arabia.
InterContinental to open in Fiji
The InterContinental Hotels and Resorts Group is to open a luxury property in Fiji. The 275-room InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa at Natadola Bay is about 40 minutes drive from Nadi International Airport. First class facilities include an 18-hole golf course designed by Vijay Singh, beachside rooms, garden-view rooms and hilltop villas with plunge pools. Other features include separate adult and children swimming pools, extensive meeting facilities, specialty restaurants, a club lounge and a free standing spa.
The resort will be welcoming guests for meetings, conferences, incentive and business events from July 2009.
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, authoritative and independent advice on the conference and meeting venue scene throughout Australia and overseas.
Been in to see us and update us on their venues include
| Teresa Bricknell - Central Sky Lounge Apartment Hotel |
El Kwang - Dockside Group |
| Anjali Sharma & Rachel Jex - Grand Hyatt Melbourne |
Priscilla Mizzi - IHG Sydney |
| Michael Donnelly - InterContinental Sydney |
Nina Gilbert - InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto |
| Rachel Grier - InterContinental Fiji |
Phil Beeson - IHG |
| Caroline Lyttle - Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley Resort |
Ian Ganner - Crowne Plaza Terrigal |
| Kylie Brajak - Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket |
Members of our team have been out and about over the past couple of months personally visiting...
| Bellinzona Grange | Yering Gorge Cottages |
| Grand Hyatt Melbourne | Hotel Ibis Glen Waverley |
| Park Hyatt Melbourne | Crown Promenade |
| Crown Towers | Eureka Level 89 |
| Langham Hotel Melbourne | Mantra Southbank |
| Melbourne Aquarium | The Brighton Savoy |
| Sumac @ Atlantic Group | Sketch @ Atlantic Group |
| Rydges Brighton Beach | InterContinental Melbourne |
YOUR SAY
"Thanks for your great service, I have sent an email around to all the EA's and friends recommending your services"
- Cathie Lacey
"Rachel keep up the good work - Your service is exceptional!!"
- Simone Fary