Hi,

I recently had cause to venture by road up to Sydney, it has to be more than 20 years since I last tackled the trip and I was most impressed with the standard of the road and the courtesy of the drivers in both cars and trucks. I was straight up and back, so hopefully next time I will be able to spend some time taking in the country-side.

The team at Key Conference Solutions has put together a comprehensive guide on the nuts and bolts of planning a conference. The booklet takes you step by step through the process of organising a conference. It's a great reference tool for those who are given the task of organising business events. The Conference Organiser's Guide can be downloaded in pdf format from our website and even better it's free!

It's time to start thinking about a venue for your end of 2010 function and now would be a good time to start getting organised as prime dates in December are booking out quickly. We have been booking quite a few end of year functions and I'm sure we can help you - call Emma Kabastanakis on +613 9870 4611.

The Hawks let me down this week in our footy tipping comp and along with some errant tips I managed only 5 winners. Box Hill Hawks are into winning form and should be a good chance if they can get into the finals. As for me it's probably best that I stick to the sailing. Enjoy your winter, with I hope for the skiers plenty of snow at your favourite resort.

Regards

Jim Conway

IN THIS ISSUE

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JULY'S FEATURED VENUES

Foothills Conference Centre

Foothills Conference Centre is one of Australia's newest Conference Centres, situated on a 20 acre rustic site at the foothills of the picturesque Dandenong Ranges and at the gateway to the Yarra Valley. A variety of styles of meeting rooms are available giving you the opportunity to pick the space that best suits your needs - from stand alone training rooms, training rooms with break out rooms attached, a computer room and a tiered lecture theatre seating up to 190 delegates.

Read more detailed information about Foothills Conference Centre or contact Sue Wall +613 9870 4611

Chifley Doveton

Positioned just 5 minutes from Dandenong CBD, one of the largest activity centres outside of central Melbourne is the 4 star Chifley Doveton featuring 128 rooms within a modern, convenient and spacious hotel environment set on 8000 square metres. Guest rooms and suites blend contemporary design with comfort, and also offer LCD TV, pay TV and movie channel as well as high-speed broadband.

Read more detailed information about Chifley Doveton or contact Emma Kabastanakis +613 9870 4611

HAPPENINGS

Sydney's newest waterfront venue, Deckhouse

Woolwich Dock, the home of Deckhouse, is one of Australia's largest and oldest working boatyards. Over the next two years, Woolwich Dock will be transformed into a maritime village, highlighting Sydney's working harbour heritage. Deckhouse Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch, and the function centre is available for bookings seven days per week for conferences, product launches and other private functions.

Officially open

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore's newest mega-resort, has officially opened following a two-day grand ceremony. The hotel's three glass towers are topped by the Sands Skypark, a 60 storey-high observation deck with restaurants, gardens and the world's longest elevated swimming pool. For meetings, five floors of exhibition and convention space can accommodate up to 45,000 delegates, with 250 meeting rooms and a grand ballroom for up to 11,000.

The Grand Hyatt Melbourne refurbishment

Following a redevelopment of the Grand Hyatt Melbourne's public areas of the hotel, a complete interior redesign of the guest rooms is underway with the hotel's premium suites, Grand Club lounge and Club floors now complete. The complete interior redesign program commenced in October 2009, and all 546 rooms will be complete by 2011. The project is isolated floor by floor, ensuring that there is minimal disruption to in-house guests. The complete redesign includes an update of the carpets, drapery and furniture.

Renowned designer Joseph Pang completed the design concept, his brief to match the luxury image of the newly refurbished public areas with a contemporary residential style.

Smoke Free

Radisson Plaza Hotel Sydney has introduced a smoke free policy, covering the entire property including public areas, guest rooms, meeting rooms, lounges and restaurants. The hotel has undergone an extensive cleaning process to eradicate residue from the few guest rooms it had for smokers. The no-smoking policy follows demand from guests, says general manager Peter Tudehope. There are designated smoking areas outside the building. It is the first Radisson property in the Asia Pacific region to introduce a no-smoking policy.

Noosa's Outrigger Little Hastings opens early

Green is the new black for Noosa's next wave of conference as one of Noosa's most anticipated conference and resort projects prepares to open early, the Outrigger Little Hastings Street Resort & Spa will open three weeks ahead of schedule. The environmentally sustainable, five-star $350 million Outrigger Little Hastings Street brings a welcome boost to Noosa's conferencing mix catering for up to 500 delegates cocktail style, plus a further 87 in a purpose-built theatrette ideal for product launches and presentations - all located just above Hastings Street and nestled beside Noosa National Park.

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 to visit us here at our office with an update and presentation on the conference side of things have been

Members of the Key Conference Solutions team have been out visiting venues and visited...

Overseas

and closer to home

YOUR SAY

"I appreciated the prompt response to my enquiries. Your efficient and polite service with no fuss attitude was excellent."
- Katia Battista

"The speed and quality of the information provided was appreciated"
- Kathy Sweeney

"Emma did a great job and gave us exactly what we asked for. I would recommend her to anyone wanting conference facilities."
- Greg Moss

"Pam and Sue were really great. I found them to be professional and helpful at all times. Your conference services saved me a lot of time and effort. Thanks so much."
- Susan Pierce