Projects push meetings and incentives forward

Much of the development along the south-east belt of Queensland has a direct bearing on Queensland's capacity to deliver for the important conference and incentive travel markets. And no international market is more important than that of Asia for this region. Major projects such as the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC), the highway linking Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the Brisbane International Airport, world class theme parks and hotels and in the not-too-distant future the Gold Coast Convention Centre have helped secure the region as a cost-effective and attractive destination. While Brisbane and the Gold Coast are less than one hour's drive from one another they are essentially very different destinations that provide quite distinct features that cater for different markets within the conference and incentive travel sectors. While its marketeers will deny it to their dying breath, Brisbane is by no means an incentive travel destination but itt is an excellent conference city. The Gold Coast has some outstanding conference venues but can hardly cut it in the international market until its own purpose-built centre comes on line two years from now. The area has some negatives as an incentive destination for certain markets, but has the sunny image and range of tourism product that makes it a strong contender for incentive travel. Stemming from the Brisbane Expo in 1988, the city has shaken off its sleepy subtropical image and emerged as a vibrant, modern city providing its inhabitants with arguably the best quality of life of any Australian capital. The South Bank parklands on the Brisbane River provides a waterfront experience complete with swimming lagoon, gardens and 15 restaurants just minutes from the heart of the city and BCEC. A major exercise to make the most of the river frontage has resulted in a scenic walkway that snakes its way all along the riverbank. A footbridge over the Brisbane River will link South Bank parklands with the city's gracious Botanic Gardens. Reputed to be the longest footbridge in the world, it will feature a dedicated viewing platform Conference organisers Nola Miles-Clark of ICMS Pty (KC PLEASE LEAVE THE PTY HERE) in Brisbane is involved in major medical and scientific meetings and says she prefers to use Brisbane for meetings over 500 delegates. "Of course the Gold Coast hotels can host larger conferences, but for us to have the conference venue, exhibition space and dining facility all on the same level we have to go to huge expense to put in 'hocker tents' which can cost up to $UD$40,000 a time," she says. She adds her company would use the proposed Gold Coast Convention Centre, but only once it was well established and had ironed out all the "bugs". She said Brisbane still needed a five star deluxe hotel adjoining the BCEC. The only hotel of note in the area is a four star Rydges property. The Gold Coast, a dazzling long strip of surf beaches, high rises, theme parks, hotels, motels and resorts has few pretensions. It's a bold, brassy place dedicated to fun. And people love it. Multi-national and domestic companies and major franchise organisations hold their conferences there year in and year out for the simple reason that their delegates (and their families) wouldn't have it any other way. Blistering hot competition between the hotels ensure rates to rival just about any Australian destination and it is the sort of place a visitor can be as active or idle as the mood dictates. Conrad Jupiters has led the charge with regard to large conference centres, followed closely by Royal Pines Resort. The other major players for the conference and incentive travel dollar include Sheraton Mirage, Marriott Resort, Gold Coast International and Mercure Broadbeach. The big news for the coast is the decision to have a $US60 million purpose-built convention centre developed at the Jupiters' site, due to open in mid 2003. This will provide a major shot in the arm for the Gold Coast's conference and exhibition industries as the existing facilities limited the ability of the city to host major conferences, even though there were always plenty of beds. Asia is the prime market for incentive travel into the Gold Coast and movements this year have included Compaq Hong Kong, Prudential Korea and Nanshan Insurance Taiwan, Prudential Taiwan and Amway China and Indonesia. The impact of the arrival of budget airlines Impulse and Virgin Blue into the east coast of Australia has yet to be determined. The Sunshine Coast, less developed than Brisbane and the Gold Coast, is also an incentive stop-over destination and able to host smaller conferences and meetings. Whether by design or pure luck, the Sunshine Coast, has not become a region of high rises and mass tourism and definitely offers organisers many options for smaller and more intimate events for clients.