replicated in nearby Fortitude Valley( where grunge and elegance co-exist) and New Farm with its hip coffee shops and fashionable boutiques. Parkland has increased, too.
The city and inner suburbia now showcase new shopping malls, hotels and vastly improved restaurant precincts( as elsewhere, what’ s hot on the dining scene is ever-changing). Construction starts early next year on Brisbane’ s biggest infrastructure project, the $ 3 billion Queen’ s Wharf redevelopment- a leisure precinct with hotel, casino, shops and restaurants. Positive implications are widely forecast for business in general and hospitality in particular.
Brisbane is getting much more than just a lick of paint. Its rebirth continues. But it’ s not just the physical environment that has altered. With China and the rest of Asia Brisbane’ s top business partners and source of tourists, this city of almost 2.3 million people( in the greater Brisbane area) now trumpets triumphant, easygoing multiculturalism. Nearly 10 per cent of this melting pot’ s population claims Asian ancestry.
According to Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, while Brisbane already enjoys strong business and trade ties with Asia, it is leveraging its reputation as“ a trailblazer... and our expertise in areas such as research, resources, innovation and education.”
Indeed, Brisbane’ s universities and colleges regard Asia as their major source of fee-paying foreign students.
Brisbane makes much of its proximity to Asia, with the bulk of the port’ s outbound shipments Asia-bound and mostly comprising Australian agricultural and mineral output.
Against this background, an on-the-ball PA would advise the boss who is visiting the area to‘ take a hike’. Well, perhaps more of a leisurely stroll to discover more of the city. A volunteer organisation called Brisbane Greeters( which can be arranged through hotels) pairs visitors with guides boasting similar interests and can take guests for downtown walks, to key historic buildings, modern architecture, parks and craft beer – to name a few.
But whether it’ s guided or a walk on their own, it’ s well worth building in enough time to enjoy contemporary Brisbane, which has evolved into one of Australia’ s most appealing cities. And, if the boss is meeting family members before or after business, point out that both the Gold Coast( with its plethora of theme parks) and the Sunshine Coast are close by.
Novotel Brisbane, outdoor bar
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016 | WWW. EXECUTIVEPA. COM. AU
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