CONVENTION CENTRES
CONVENTION CENTRES
Flexitarian
The changing needs of delegates looking for a more interactive and immersive experience are pushing new convention centres to think beyond four walls , writes Sheridan Randall .
Four walls , a roof to keep the rain out and wi-fi . That might have been the template for a convention centre back in the 20 th century , but how are this century ’ s convention centres going to look ? One keyword being bandied around is flexibility . The delegate of today wants an interactive experience and venues are stepping up to the plate to meet the changing needs of organisers looking to create events that deliver engaging experiences .
As long distance destinations Australia and New Zealand have to be global leaders in the convention centre space . Up against other destinations armed with cash incentives , Australasian venues compete by being the best with a number of new build convention centres and redevelopment of existing centres set to take that reputation to another level .
First cab off the rank is International Convention Centre Sydney ( ICC Sydney ) which is already well into its testing phase before officially opening its doors in December .
“ Delegate expectations are high , and three key areas we are seeing rapidly evolve from a delegate demand point of view are technology , cuisine and destination experience ,” says ICC Sydney CEO Geoff Donaghy .
ICC Sydney has been created from the ground up , making it a purpose-built digital venue underpinned by a 10Gbps optical fibre backbone . The convention centre and entertainment precinct has also combined its ICT and AV departments to deliver a frictionless digital experience . There is also an in-built contingency plan to proactively mitigate any potential device failure .
“ This intelligent design provides us with a highly adaptable digital environment , and the power to truly lift the bar in terms of industry standards ,” says Donaghy . Following on from technology , food is next on the list under the eye of executive chef Tony Panetta who has created a “ smart food ” menu .
“ Good nutrition has emerged as a key factor in business success ,” says Donaghy . “ ICC Sydney has embraced an industry-first ‘ Feeding Your Performance ’ philosophy to deliver ‘ smart ’ menus comprising fresh , seasonal and ethically sourced ingredients ,
10 Convention & Incentive Marketing , Issue 7 , 2016 www . cimmagazine . com