LOCAL
PERSPECTIVE
O
pening up a world of possibility, Business Events Victoria on stand
3252 is one of the destinations presenting today at 12:15pm, eager
to share what they have to offer as an events destination.
ROOM TO MOVE
The Ocean Grove Chalet will feature 15 rooms with 21 beds. Due to
open late 2018 the accommodation sits on the rugged coastline of the
region overlooking the ocean. Each apartment will be designed with
luxury in mind and the hotel will feature a heated pool and spa. The $205 million expansion of Melbourne
Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC)
is progressing as scheduled, and is due for
completion in mid-2018. Adding nearly 20,000
square metres of flexible, multi-purpose event
space including new exhibition halls and
additional meeting and banquet rooms, the new
space will be fully connected and integrated with
the existing MCEC, increasing the venue’s total
size to over 70,000 square metres – the largest
convention and exhibition space in Australia.
The Lon Project on the Bellarine Peninsula’s Lonsdale Views will
emerge from an extensive renovation in October reimagined as a
luxury retreat and spa set on 250 acres. Marnong Estate is due to open
in mid-2018, offering boutique accommodation and event spaces set
within a historic farm homestead. A multi-purpose area with a retractable 1000 seat
theatre and additional adaptable meeting rooms
are two of many flexible features throughout the
new building that will allow the space to adapt to
the needs of customers.
Early 2018 will see five-star winery Provenance Wines open an
operational winery and large function centre on the banks of the
Barwon River at the Old Paper Mills site in Fyansford. Other key features of MCEC’s expansion include
a banquet room to accommodate up to 450
guests; 9000 square metres of pillar-less
exhibition space; informal networking spaces;
an outdoor event courtyard; and balcony area to
host 150 guests for cocktail functions.
On the accommodation front RACV Cape Shank Resort’s
redevelopment is due for completion in mid-2018, before it’s reborn
into a 200-room resort and with a new conference centre with capacity
for 500 people. Mitchelton Hotel has opened at Mitchelton Winery
on the banks of the Goulburn River in the regional town of Nagambie
offering 58 rooms and indoor and outdoor event spaces.
Due to open early 2018 Live Wire Park is a treetop adventure
experience set in the rainforest just outside of the coastal town of
Lorne. Up to 300 people per day can experience a series of rope
courses, tree top canopy circuit and rollercoaster zipline. Small
incentive groups can experience adventurous team-building activities
while enjoying beautiful views from the top.
Early 2018 will see award-winning hot springs and spa centre Peninsula
Hot Springs unveil seven new pools and an amphitheatre designed to
host concerts, talks, demonstrations and wellness activities.
Broaden your horizons and take your business to the next level.
Explore all your different options in one country by sitting in on these
presentations – the Korea Pavilion on stand 2710, Japan National
Tourism Organization on stand 2700, Malaysian Convention & Exhibition
Bureau on stand 2110, Melbourne Convention Bureau on stand 2950,
Business Events Sydney on stand 4150, and Philippine Department
of Tourism on stand 3410.
The expansion follows the success of last year
that saw MCEC win multiple awards including
being Best Venue Team at the Exhibition and
Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) Awards
for Excellence, the second consecutive year the
venue has received the award in the category.
MCEC chief executive Peter King says the win
was recognition of the venue’s customer centric
approach, and commended the venue team’s
ability to respond and adapt to the event’s
changing requirements.
“To receive this award for the second
consecutive year is an outstanding achievement
and truly a reflection of the people who make
MCEC the best venue in Australia for business
events,” he says.
AIMEDaily Day 2, 2018 5