| NEWSLETTER Vol 35, 08/2007 |  |
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Hello, I really do enjoy winter! I spent last weekend in Launceston following that football team I barrack for and the mornings were crisp, clear and oh so cold but warm in the sun when taking in a walk around the town before breakfast. Absolutely loved it - we were made welcome, were well looked after and thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality extended to us while in Launceston. My travelling companions headed off to play golf on Monday as I travelled back to the office to finish off this our 35th newsletter. While I have been to Tasmania for the footy, members of the team have been in Sydney, Brisbane, New Zealand, China and regional Victoria keeping up to date on conference and meeting venues. This travelling is an integral part of our gathering of information and assessing venues from our own personal experiences that we add to our comprehensive venue database. It may seem a long time away but Melbourne Meeting Mart is coming up, so pencil in Tuesday 30 October at Melbourne Park Function Centre. Now into its fifth year, Meeting Mart has proved itself to be one of the premier Conference & Incentive exhibitions within Australia. There will be lots happening and we'll bring more information to you as we get closer to the show. We'll have a stand so plan to drop in and meet with members of our team. Winter is usually a quiet time for conferences and meetings but we continue to be very busy with both the conference venue finding service and our business events management service proving to be popular. It's good to be getting such excellent feedback on the performance of the Business Events Management Service as we continue to win new business in this exciting new venture. Thanks go to Richard, Mark and Emily and all the Key Conference Solutions team for all their hard work in making this initiative successful. Pam now leads the office footy tipping competition by one. I can't understand where I went wrong - could be the Hawks are not delivering. Still I might be able to sneak back in to the lead before the end of the season - I'll let you know who our top tipster is in our October newsletter. Regards, Jim |
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VENUES It's amazing what you'll find in the Forest...
Nestled in the heart of Victoria's spa country, the new Novotel Forest Resort Creswick will feature 144 luxurious suites when it opens for conferences in April 2008. Situated on 150 acres and boasting spectacular views, this exquisite venue will feature seven state-of-the-art meeting rooms to cater for intimate groups of 10 to 50 people or sophisticated functions for up to 1000 guests. Featuring natural light, ceiling mounted data projectors and screens, wireless and broadband internet, two business centres and in-house audio visual technicians, the resort will be the most sophisticated new venue in Provincial Victoria. Whether you visit the Forest for business or pleasure, complete your stay with an indulgent visit to the Health & Wellness Centre and revive your senses in the day spa, gymnasium, indoor/outdoor heated swimming pool, steam room and spa. The resort's most acclaimed feature is the par 72 championship golf course designed by Robert Allenby and Tony Cashmore. Set amongst acres of forest, the golf course will make for an extraordinary bushland golf experience, featuring broad slopes, cooling creek systems and fairways set in cathedral–like passages, all invoking the lush 'Augusta' experience. Additional on-site recreational activities are abundant. For more information contact Lisa Maree Roberts +613 9870 4611
Silverwater Resort, a stunning 4˝ star resort unlike anything else seen in Victoria, officially opens in October 2007. Only an 80 minute drive from Melbourne and setting new standards in the Phillip Island region, the property showcases 204 studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments all with modern conveniences and contemporary furnishings. Silverwater Resort boasts conference facilities for up to 230 delegates and offers a unique conference experience with its five purpose built function rooms offering pillar-free flexible layouts, natural light and the latest in AV technology. The state-of-the-art conference rooms are complemented by a fully licensed restaurant, café and bar, indoor and outdoor pools, gym, tennis and basketball courts, plus its own oval. Whether it's a corporate retreat, product launch, incentive trip or your company conference, Silverwater's meeting specialists will manage the experience with meticulous attention ensuring genuinely great experience from start to finish. For more information contact Sue Wall +61 3 9870 4611. The New Wing at The Grange at Cleveland Winery
The Grange at Cleveland Winery, has undergone major growth with the addition of a brand new wing on the site - set on a 120 acre working winery offering breathtaking views of the surrounding Macedon Ranges. The Grange at Cleveland Winery now has a total of 52 rooms, with the capacity to accommodate up to 102 guests. Its rooms are spacious and modern with beautiful and elegant interiors. The extension also features 2 additional conference rooms that will allow multiple conference groups to use the centre at any one time or provide ample space and privacy for group breakout sessions. The new wing incorporates the latest in conferencing technology and is supported by state of the art equipment to handle any event, including entertainment or product launches. The venue boasts multiple conference room options including an Executive Boardroom, dial up / ADSL internet points in each room and wireless connectivity throughout the venue. Located only 45 minutes from the CBD (or 30 minutes from the Melbourne Airport), The Grange at Cleveland Winery makes a perfect venue for conferences, meetings or group getaways. For more information contact Lisa Moloney +61 3 9870 4611.
- Ovid
JOIN AUSTRALIA'S LEADING COMPANIES Join Australia's leading companies that are taking advantage of the free venue-finding service Key Conference Solutions offers. Department of Justice, Staging Connections, Shell Australia, Origin Energy, Medibank Private, Pearson Education, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Adshel Street Furniture, Nova Defence, Rio Tinto, Pedders Suspension, Deloitte Australia, Simplot Australia, Macmillan Publishers, Parson Brinckerhoff, Boston Consulting, Flight Centre Ltd, Deer Park Engineering, Macquarie Private Wealth, BASF Australia, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Nalco Australia, KPMG, Tyco Fire & Security, Ernst & Young, Shirlaws, Bilfinger Berger Services (Aust) P/L, Novartis, Melbourne Water and SIRF Roundtables are just some of the organisations who have chosen Key Conference Solutions to source venues throughout Australia, New Zealand and overseas for their upcoming business meetings and conferences.
- Japanese Proverb
Members of our team have been out and about in June and July personally visiting... In Queensland In Melbourne In Sydney In Auckland - New Zealand In Shanghai - China
- André Gide
"The assistance from both Lisa and Nicola has been very professional, flexible, efficient and a huge
help for me in coordinating the logistics for these groups. To be able to rely on Key Conference Solutions
to do the ground work in preparation of our monthly programs has been a huge comfort and has streamlined
the process immensely." "Thank you very much for all your help. The team at Key Conference Solutions do a sensational job!" "Your service relieves a great burden from EA’s who have limited time and resources in checking out
conference venues. Your service is highly valued." "Fantastic Service! Located a venue at very short notice – Thanks."
- Anon
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HAPPENINGS New Ramada Hotel for Ballina.
On the banks of the beautiful Richmond River, overlooking the refurbished Fawcett Park, Ramada Riverside is a 44-room complex that offers superior accommodations at affordable prices. It is the first true boutique style hotel in Ballina and provides international standard accommodation, dining and service, just minutes from the beach front, in the heart of downtown Ballina. Ramada's suites are among the largest in regional Australia with 2 Bedroom Apartments around 120 square meters in size. Ramada Hotel & Suites Ballina waterfront address will feature its own vibrant Al Fresco dining "Eat Street" in the Martin street precinct, a place where the pace is relaxed, the ambience is casual, friendly and everything is close at hand. Able to host groups up to 100 banquet style, meeting rooms include the The Board Room, The Fenwick Room and The Ainsworth Room. Hamilton Island commences golf course Hamilton Island has recently commenced on the long-awaited 18-hole championship golf course on neighbouring island - Dent Island. The Peter Thomson designed course will be Australia's only island championship golf course and is just a few minutes boat ride from Hamilton Island. In addition to what is destined to be one of the most scenic courses in Australia, the course is also being designed with minimal environmental impact and will feature an exclusive clubhouse. The multi million dollar development expected to be completed late 2008 will truly be the jewel in the Whitsundays, offering yet another dimension to the extensive activity portfolio of Hamilton Island. New team member at Campaspe House Ryan Crossley joins the team at Campaspe House as Head Chef. Ryan, who grew up in Bendigo, commenced his professional training at the award-winning Bazzani Ristorante before developing his career with time at Bluestone restaurant bar, Sarti and Lamaro’s. Ryan's new menu will reflect the exceptional seasonal and regional produce of the Macedon Ranges and surrounding areas. Also joining the team as Sous Chef is Rohan Hehir. New Development at Sea World Sea World Resort has commenced a $2.5million room and conference venue refurbishment plus a lobby upgrade that is due for completion in late August this year. The 405-room makeover is well underway with 40% already boasting new colour schemes, soft furnishings, décor and modern slim line LCD television screens. The conference venues upgrade will include new carpet and paint, as well as new conference tables and chairs. The newly renovated re-designed Lobby will showcase the property's magnificent view over the Southport Broadwater - modern tiling, colour scheme, art, furniture and lighting will then complete the transformation. IACC Chairman's Awards for Excellence
The Country Place and Flowerdale Estate Retreats' Hayley Jones and Kim Harding have won the very first IACC (International Association of Conference Centres) Chairman's Awards for Excellence. These awards are designed to recognise personal and professional achievements and outstanding contributions by individuals within the conference centre industry. Hayley Jones, Apprentice Chef, at The Country Place and Flowerdale Estate, won the Back of House Award and Kim Harding, Conference Manager at The Country Place received the Front of House Award. Support for Fiji
In a huge show of support for the Fijian tourism industry and local communities, international surgical company Smith & Nephew has led by example, returning to the Sofitel Fiji Resort on Denarau Island for its second scientific meeting in so many years and generously donating AUD$10,000 to children’s charity, Cure Kids Fiji. The international Smith & Nephew group of orthopaedic surgeons presented a $10,000 cheque to Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa's General Manager Paul Stevens who accepted on behalf of Cure Kids Fiji – the Accor hotel group's charity of choice in the Fiji Islands. Mr Stevens said, "It's fantastic to see a leading international business like Smith & Nephew showing their appreciation for Fiji as a conferencing destination by returning for another year. It's even more satisfying to see a company showing such genuine appreciation and awareness for the local community they are visiting and acknowledging their connection with a wonderful donation for a worthwhile cause."
- Anon
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 throughout Australia and overseas. Been in to see us and update us on their venues include Kathryn Carmody - Hunter Valley Gardens, Sarah Rumble & Nariman Taweel – Quest Serviced Apartments, Louise Osborne – Marylands Country House, Rebecca Millard – Stamford Plaza Adelaide, Susan Sawbridge - Tourism Auckland, Winnii Loke – Melbourne Aquarium, Jacquie Martin – Federal Group Tasmania, Emma Ciavarella – Noosa Springs, Dimity Hately – Newport Mirage, Ivan Skidmore & Danielle Cope Silverwater Resort, Di Christie – Lake Taupo Convention Bureau, Heather Young – Bayview Wairakei Resort, Sue Jolly - Chris Jolly Outdoors, Georgina Torrington – InterContinental Hotels Group, Shahnaz Bakhshay & Russell Daff – TOGA Hospitality, Jacqueline Allen – Shangri-La Hotels, Avril Northbridge & MeShell Lind – Marriott Hotels, Anne Marie Caruso & Claire Rennie - Stamford Plaza Melbourne, Kelvin Dodt – The Sebel Heritage Yarra Valley, Kimberley Flanagan-Crow – Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Anouschka Douglas – Gold Coast International Hotel, Fiona Poole – Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas, Mary Poulter – Stamford Hotels and Resorts, Spencer Hendricks and Andrew Best – Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart.
- Anon
CONTACT US: Phone: +61 3 9870 4611
- Helen Keller
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