| VENUE REVIEWS
New venue close
to Melbourne
Due to open in June 2003 The Grange at Cleveland Winery is an historic
property circa 1890. The original manor and its grounds have now
been combined with new conference facilities and executive suites
which, together, offers a unique rural conference and meeting environment.
The region spoils you with vineyards, galleries, Hepburn Springs
spa resorts and Hanging Rock while Cleveland itself quietly goes
about the business of combining a working winery with it’s
multi-purpose conference and meeting centre.
The grounds cover 120 acres of countryside with 15 acres planted
with grapevines. It is the great outdoors at its best and it is
equally matched by the accommodation indoors. A large outdoor deck
overlooks the winery and seats up to 40 for Alfresco dining. New
cellars have also been built beneath the complex and you can take
a guided tour, a fascinating journey for wine lovers.
There are 20 executive suites and a dedicated facilitator’s
area with two additional rooms. The Manor contains a further 6 spa
suites. Total capacity for the venue is 28 single rooms accommodating
up to 56 twin share. Only 45 minutes drive from Melbourne and 30
minutes from Tullamarine Airport .
To arrange an inspection of The Grange at Cleveland Winery call
Sue Wall on +613 9870 4611
Introducing ZINC
at Federation Square
On 19 November 2002, ZINC at
Federation Square opened as Melbourne’s ultimate events venue
and Epicure’s latest. Named after the transitional metal used
extensively throughout this exciting new Melbourne landmark, ZINC
at Federation Square is set to become the essential element in events.
The only space in Federation Square purpose built for events, ZINC
Fed Sq is located on the River Terrace and combines prominent Yarra
River frontage with sweeping views of the Royal Botanic Gardens,
Birrarung Marr and Melbourne’s heritage listed boat sheds.
ZINC Fed Sq has the capacity to hold a dinner for up to 550 or
a cocktail party of 1000. In addition, the space can be split into
two ‘studios’ for more intimate events.
ZINC Fed Sq challenges the divide between modern conference venue
and stylish event space. Traditional function venue décor
is replaced with a style and quality unmatched in Melbourne venues,
from the fine Villeroy and Boch tableware to the sleek Foglia chairs
and state of the art lighting.
Clients can relax in the confidence that Epicure’s award
winning service will ensure a successful event.
To find out more about ZINC at Federation Square – The Essential
Element in Events, call Lou David +613 9870 4611
| “I keep my ideals, because in spite
of everything, I still believe that people are really good at
heart.” |
Many
an option in Marysville
Meeting options abound in Marysville with a variety
of excellent conference venues available. Marysville has moved with
the times and has many up to date meeting facilities and is the
perfect destination for corporate business events. Just a short
trip from Melbourne through the wine district surrounding Healesville
brings you to the picturesque village of Marysville.
The autumn colors are spectacular at this time of year with those
typical still warm sunny days and nights spent in front of the roaring
log fires.
Among the many options available are Marylands Country House, The
Cumberland Marysville, Mountain Lodge and Kooringa Conference Centre
who offer a wide range of meeting environments.
Meet in Marysville information and options are available from Sue
Wall +613 9870 4611.
| YOUR
SAY
"Key Conference Solutions has assisted the City of Boroondara
on a number of occasions in sourcing conference venues. The
service provided by staff of Key Conference Solutions has
meant that those organising conferences have been able to
continue with their day to day activities.
As conference organisers we have appreciated the quality
of the service provided by Key Conference Solutions. Their
service has certainly been of value to us delivered in a timely
manner, often at short notice and we will continue to use
Key Conference Solutions whenever the need arises."
June and Chris
City of Boroondara
"Thanks for all your great work Sue. I was very impressed
with your knowledge and professional approach for our recent
conference. To find someone who is so helpful to work with
in understanding our conference needs is of real value to
me and as a result our conference was a great success. I look
forward to working with you again for our next conference.
Valerie Rottura
RACV
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| VENUES
AUSTRALIA-WIDE
Join the ranks of Australia's leading companies that are taking
advantage of the Australia -wide venue finding service Key
Conference Solutions offers. HBA, Amcor, Guild Insurance &
Financial Services, ANZ, City of Hume, Robert Bosch (Aust)
Pty Ltd, Pioneer Road Services and Quest Software are companies
who have chosen Key Conference Solutions to source venues
in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and in fact venues
Australia - wide for their business events.
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CONFERENCE
TIPS
Financial Planning
One of the first considerations is to determine if the conference
is intended to make a profit or break even. If you are organising
an internal staff or distributor conference, senior management may
well have handed you a budget to work to.
It is essential to have financial control over the event and build
a working budget. You need to clarify exactly what the budget is
required to cover. As with all budgets you will have a list of fixed
costs, which need to be covered irrespective of the number of delegates.
For conferences, the broad areas are staging and production costs,
the invitation process, function room deposits, audio visual needs,
logistics and support fees.
Variable costs cover the rest because the number of delegates drives
most of the variable cost. The number of attendees is therefore
vital to know before you can arrive at a working budget. A CMP (Complete
Meeting Package) usually refers to all charges per person, per 24
hours, including conference room, accommodation and all meals but
excluding consumable items such as telephone, fax, photcopying and
beverages.
A third unwritten but inevitable cost is a contingency budget to
cover beverages, telephone, fax, photocopying and unforeseen logistical
costs like courier or transport, expenses which will need to be
covered as they arise.
Conferences are dynamic events and it is impossible to be absolutely
accurate about contingency costs but you can generate a manageable
budget in the early stages of the planning process, which makes
it easier when you get to the venue selection process.
| “For fast acting relief, try slowing
down.” |
|
Meet Pam Conway
Pam is a founding partner of Key Conference Solutions along
with husband Jim. She has an extensive background in travel
having owned and operated her own travel agency in Broadmeadows
for many years before moving into the hospitality business
as a partner in Warburton Waters Guest House.
Warburton Waters was a renowned weekend
getaway and conference retreat, well known for its excellence
in service and outstanding culinary standards. This was Pam’s
first exposure to the conference and meeting market and was
followed by the purchase of the former Westpac training college
in Lilydale which was operated as Kyarra Business Retreat
until it was sold in 1999.
Pam and Jim have a daughter Kate currently
savouring the delights of Europe on a 12-month Rotary Youth
Exchange. She is living and attending school in the heart
of Vienna, having left Australia early in January to return
next January to take on the challenge of Year 12. From all
accounts she has inherited her parents’ love of travel
and new experience and is taking full advantage of her good
fortune.
Pam is the cordial and happy face behind
Key Conference Solutions and on weekends can be found spending
her spare time in the garden with her much loved dog Belle.
You can contact Pam on +613 9870 4611 or email
|
| “In the face of uncertainty, there
is nothing wrong with hope.” |
|
| FREE
BOOKLET "THE CONFERENCE ORGANISER’S GUIDE”
If you haven't already got
a copy of our comprehensive guide on the nuts and bolts of
planning a conference, you can get a free copy of our "Conference
Organiser’s Guide” which talks about how to organise
a successful conference.
Call us on +613 9870 4611. We'll
happily send you as many copies as you need to distribute
around your company with our compliments.
| “Everything can be taken from
a person but one thing: the last of human freedoms …to
choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances
… to choose one's own way.” |
|
| OUT
AND ABOUT
On a regular basis our team is out and about sampling
first hand conference and meeting venues throughout Australia.
This ongoing schedule of briefing sessions and venue inspections
ensures our product knowledge is extensive and current which
in turn allows us to offer you, our valued clients, a professional,
authorative and independent venue finding service.
Pam Conway spent some time at the Sheraton Mirage on the
Gold Coast and experienced first hand their excellent cuisine
along with the variety of activities available for both conference
and incentive program attendees. You can call and talk to
Pam Conway +613 9870 4611 about her fantastic experiences
at the Sheraton Mirage.
We held a short conference of our own at the Savoy Park Plaza
last week where we conducted one of our own on going development
training programs. We found the boardroom really suited our
agenda and all enjoyed a great variety of scrumptious food
at the buffet lunch. Well done to all the team at Savoy Park
Plaza.
Our team members have visited Victoria University Convention
Centre Sunshine Campus, Linley Estate - Kilsyth, Green Gables
and Yarra Valley Grange - Warburton, York on Lilydale, Vue
Grand - Queenscliff and The Mansion Hotel - Werribee.
To maintain our knowledge of innovations, upgrades and newcomers
on the venue scene Australia-wide, we regularly enjoy visits
from property personnel for venue updates and briefing sessions
which lately included Tish Black - Cumberland Lorne, Rhonda
Norman and Tania Popko from Peppers Group, Vanessa Bowen and
Kate Meathrel - Sheraton/Starwood, Narelle Veal- Hyatt Coollum,
Michelle Fraser - Chifley, Sue Magi Marriot Surfers Paradise,
Simone Baumgartner – Carlton Crest, Lisa Moloney –
The Sebel Lodge Yarra Valley, Steve Currie - Unilink, Paul
Humphreys - Le Meridien, Sarah Seddon - Epicure, Janne Moore
Erskine on the Beach – Lorne and Melinda Shaw- Saville
Hotel Group.
Let us find the right venue for your conference call us NOW
+613 9870 4611 Our venue finding service is FREE.
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| “The first step to better times
is to imagine them.” |
Click here to visit the Key Conference Solutions website
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