NEWSLETTER: VOL.5 /2009 www.darwinconvention.com.au Welcome In any business, word of mouth referrals are the the key to ongoing success. Following consistent positive feedback from our clients, Darwin has earned the well deserved status of being one of Australia’s sought after convention destinations. The city continues to impress well-travelled delegates, exhibitors and conference organisers with its unique blend of genuine friendliness and professionalism in a stress-free, multi-cultural environment. Teamwork within Darwin's business and government community has made event experiences here so special and authentically Darwin. In this edition, you will learn how this collaboration successfully hosted the largest event of its kind, the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) Conference and Exhibition. So next time you are sourcing a location, make it Darwin! Malu Barrios GEnErAl MAnAGEr DArwIn ConvEnTIon CEnTrE AFTEr only onE yEAr oF oPErATIonS, the Darwin Convention Centre (DCC) has achieved global recognition by winning the 2009 Members' Choice Award for Innovation at the International Association of Congress Centres (AIPC) Congress held recently in A Coruna, Spain. AIPC President Edgar Hirt said the bi-annual award is conferred to initiatives that represent innovation in the true sense of the word. It reflects the organisation’s mission of encouraging and recognising excellence in congress centre management among their 160 members spanning 53 countries. DCC submitted its highly successful workforce Development Strategy, an initiative aimed at addressing the inadequate supply of skilled workforce that challenged the Centre’s ability to deliver quality service. The scheme provided training and employment of indigenous Australians, migrants, refugees, and the long-term unemployed in world-class food and beverage services. DCC General Manager Malu Barrios said the award highlights the Centre's commitment to generating a positive economic, social and cultural impact to the Darwin community. GLOBAL RECOGNITION FOR INNOVATION
In any business, word of mouth referrals are the the key to ongoing success. Following consistent positive feedback from our clients, Darwin has earned the well deserved status of being one of Australia’s sought after convention destinations. The city continues to impress well-travelled delegates, exhibitors and conference organisers with its unique blend of genuine friendliness and professionalism in a stress-free, multi-cultural environment.
Teamwork within Darwin's business and government community has made event experiences here so special and authentically Darwin. In this edition, you will learn how this collaboration successfully hosted the largest event of its kind, the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) Conference and Exhibition.
So next time you are sourcing a location, make it Darwin!
Malu Barrios GEnErAl MAnAGEr DArwIn ConvEnTIon CEnTrE
AFTEr only onE yEAr oF oPErATIonS, the Darwin Convention Centre (DCC) has achieved global recognition by winning the 2009 Members' Choice Award for Innovation at the International Association of Congress Centres (AIPC) Congress held recently in A Coruna, Spain.
AIPC President Edgar Hirt said the bi-annual award is conferred to initiatives that represent innovation in the true sense of the word. It reflects the organisation’s mission of encouraging and recognising excellence in congress centre management among their 160 members spanning 53 countries.
DCC submitted its highly successful workforce Development Strategy, an initiative aimed at addressing the inadequate supply of skilled workforce that challenged the Centre’s ability to deliver quality service.
The scheme provided training and employment of indigenous Australians, migrants, refugees, and the long-term unemployed in world-class food and beverage services.
DCC General Manager Malu Barrios said the award highlights the Centre's commitment to generating a positive economic, social and cultural impact to the Darwin community.
GLOBAL RECOGNITION FOR INNOVATION
“Hosting our event in Darwin gave us the opportunity to attract business and speakers from Asia, access truly unique venues and services, work one-on-one with key suppliers and create a real ‘Taste of the Territory’ experience," summed up Ms Hood.
“The Centre’s team displayed the utmost professionalism and efficiency. From a venue perspective, the advanced technology and wireless systems excelled in every way. we achieved and surpassed all KPIs set by the Association, and 98.17% of responding delegates rated their overall experience good or excellent,” continued Ms Hood.
The APPEA Conference & Exhibition is the largest annual gathering of the oil and gas industry in the southern hemisphere and is considered to be amongst the global top three.
DARWIN DELIVERS FOR APPEA
EArlIEr THIS yEAr, Darwin successfully hosted the largest event of its kind ever held in Australia’s northern Territory–the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) 2009 Conference and Exhibition.
The event attracted 1,703 participants and featured a 187-booth exhibition complete with technology centre, a full working media room, welcome reception for 1,100, gala dinner celebration for 990, a variety of vIP functions, and a farewell cocktail reception.
APPEA’s Director of Events, Julie Hood, said that with the combined support of the northern Territory Convention Bureau, the Darwin Convention Centre, and nT Government, Darwin “ticked all the boxes".
APPEA chose Darwin as the destination for Australia's leading oil and gas industry event two years prior to the opening of the Darwin Convention Centre. The venue's General Manager Malu Barrios knew then that the total commitment of Darwin's events community would be key to the successful hosting of the event.
“Hosting APPEA 2009 was a milestone achievement for the city of Darwin. Every service provider knew this was our chance to make Darwin shine,” stated Ms Barrios.
Everyone responded to APPEA’s needs. Qantas allocated more aircraft, accommodation facilities worked in harmony to meet peak room demands, transport and taxis were ready for large volume movements, offsite venues and exhibition companies created miracles, and hospitality staff beamed with welcoming smiles.
not one complaint was heard. By successfully hosting APPEA 2009, Darwin has joined the ranks of convention cities with star appeal.
“The teamwork that the city of Darwin showed in welcoming APPEA made our 2009 event such a memorable experience. From the outset, we knew our event's sheer size and scope would create challenges, but we're absolutely thrilled with the result!”
Belinda robinson, Chief Executive AuSTrAlIAn PETrolEuM ProDuCTIon AnD ExPlorATIon ASSoCIATIon onference and Exhibition
TEAMWORK KEY TO SUCCESS
NEWS
TOP MENUS CAPTURE TOP END FLAVOURS
THE norTHErn TErrITory'S rEPuTATIon is outstanding when it comes to wild barramundi, coral prawns, mud crabs, fresh grown Asian vegetables, and delicious tropical fruit.
DCC’s Food & Beverage Manager, Aaron roussos said visitors to the Territory are after a taste experience that is unique to the region and the Centre can certainly deliver on that.
“we recently developed new menus to showcase the best of Top End’s produce and seafood. It was a collaborative effort, with our Executive Chef Jock Mitchell and Sous Chef Toby Beaton even sourcing client input on how to make our menu selection the best,” roussos stated.
“Darwin has an incredibly relaxed and welcoming environment. I was surprised by the close proximity of everything and the ease of organising large scale events.”
Cath Healy Executive Manager Events InSTITuTE oF PuBlIC ADMInISTrATIon AuSTrAlIA
In partnership with the nT Convention Bureau, DCC hosted a site inspection for Australia’s key conference decision makers. The goal was to showcase the business events potential of Darwin.
Timed to coincide with the 2009 Darwin Festival, the four-day itinerary included visits to places of interest and offsite venues, a sampling of Festival highlights, an exhibition of local convention suppliers and educational sessions featuring local speakers presenting an array of information on northern Territory economy, industries and infrastructure.
Executive officer for the Australasian Faculty of rehabilitation Medicine, Ms Sybil Cumming said “I had heard so many good things about Darwin. After this experience I will definitely be recommending Darwin for a future Asia Pacific as well as a national meeting.”
DCC’s five-star Food & Beverage team often receive client kudos for their inventive and attentive service.
“our conference dinner was the best ever. The food presentation and menu were outstanding. our delegates also loved the personal interaction from Aaron, Jock and their team,” said Sarah Smith, EPA's Associate Project Manager - Events for the Perinatal Society of Australia and new Zealand.
“The social highlight of our event was the congress dinner for 720. The response was overwhelming so we had to expand into two halls at the last minute. The Centre’s team handled it all with ease,” said Merv Paton of local Government Managers Australia.
DCC’S FIvE STAr FooD & BEvErAGE TEAM
l to r – Front Jock Mitchell, Executive Chef; Eddie racines, Chief Steward
l to r – Back Toby Beaton, Sous Chef; Aaron roussos, Food & Beverage Manager; Fletcher Bank, Banquet Manager
MAKE IT DARWIN
WhAT’S COMING TO ThE DARWIN CONVENTION CENTRE
EVENT ESTIMATEDATTENDEES
Australian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Conference 2009 400
2010 nursery and Garden Industry Australia Awards & national Conference 350
Australasian College of Dermatologists 43rd Annual Scientific Meeting 2010 400
9th world Indigenous women and wellness Conference 2010 500
2010 Darwin Probus rendezvous 800
17th Annual Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council Conference 2010 1,000
Australian Pipeline Industry Association 2010 Convention 300
18th Biennial Australasian Plant Pathology Conference and 4th Asian Conference of Plant Pathology 2011 500
royal Australian and new Zealand College of Psychiatrists 2011 Congress 900
Speech Pathology Australia national Conference 2011 600
18th Biennial Australian Federation of Modern language Teachers Associations national Conference 2011 400
Australian and new Zealand Society of nuclear Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting 2011 500
21st Biennial Conference of the Australian Dental Prosthetists Association 2011 450
Australian College of operating room nurses national Conference 2012 600
Australasian Society for HIv Medicine Annual Conference 2013 800
Australian Dental Association Congress 2015 1,600
Around 4000 athletes and officials descended on Darwin in May this year, to celebrate the 2009 Arafura Games.
For 18 years the Arafura Games has been pivotal in focussing attention on emerging athletes, offering them the opportunity to compete in an international competition the like of which occurs nowhere else in the world.
The Games are renowned for sporting excellence, cultural diversity and friendship.
For the first time, the Darwin Convention Centre was host to the International Sports Conference, badminton and the energetic Sepak takraw competition also known as "kick volleyball."
WATERFRONT NEWS ovErlooKInG onE oF AuSTrAlIA’S lArGEST HArBourS, the Darwin waterfront precinct has become a popular addition to this tropical city’s attractions.
visitors cool down in the spectacular 4,000 sqm wave lagoon, enjoying the beach and lush tropical gardens. within this year the precinct will expand with a wider choice of restaurants, seafood outlets, trendy cafes, stylish boutiques, a delicatessen, and day spa.
The stylish vibe Hotel adds to the waterfront's appeal among conference delegates. It won “Best new Hotel" at the national 2009 HM Awards for Hotel & Accommodation Excellence. The adjoining Medina Grand Darwin waterfront Apartments was also a finalist.
Sepak takraw was played in the Centre’s Auditorium for the 2009 Arafura Games.
originating from Asia, it combines the teamwork of volleyball, the dexterity of soccer and the finesse of badminton. The word "sepak" is a Malay word meaning to kick, while "takraw" in Thai means rattan or cane ball.
ARAFURA GAMES
AUSTRALIA’S LEADERS IN INDIGENOUS RESEARCh
DID you Know THAT DArwIn is home to Australia’s only health and medical research institute with a primary focus on the health of indigenous communities and people living in tropical and remote areas?
The Menzies School of Health research has been conducting ground-breaking research in a range of disciplines, including epidemiology, sociology, anthropology, physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, nutrition, and clinical medicine for almost 25 years.
Combine this expertise with the natural world Heritage attractions the region has to offer, no wonder Darwin is becoming a sought after convention destination for medical and scientific meetings.
As a non-membership based convention bureau, their advice is unbiased and tailored specifically to meet every potential client’s needs.
nTCB Manager lynn Fairbrass said selecting Darwin as a destination will undoubtedly enhance stronger attendance, add a level of anticipation and excitement to every event and give people a unique taste of northern Australian culture they might not encounter otherwise.
The northern Territory Convention Bureau (nTCB), a division of Tourism nT, provides an excellent range of services to assist with every phase of a meeting, conference or incentive program.
with an incredible depth of local knowledge, nTCB invites conference organisers to take advantage of their services when planning a business event.
“The evolution of the Darwin waterfront combined with the new Darwin Convention Centre makes the city a very appealing location for convention organisers and delegates.
The quality of the venue and excellent services has brought the total Darwin conference experience to a new level.”
Mark Chalmers Conference Chair AuSIMM InTErnATIonAl urAnIuM ConFErEnCE
NORThERN TERRITORY CONVENTION BUREAU
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Darwin Convention Centre GPo Box 735, Darwin nT 0801 Australia
Darwin Convention Centre is a project of the Darwin Cove Consortium and the northern Territory Government and is proudly operated by international venue management specialist, AEG ogden. www.aegogden.com
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