Canberra

Have just gotten back from two days in Canberra - checking out venues for a client's meeting in 2010. Thanks to Leslie from the Canberra Convention Bureau, for being so helpful (and keeping me moving, constantly, for two days!!)

Saw some great spaces - some I'd seen before, and some new ones. Special thanks to the beautiful Park Hyatt Canberra for putting me up, and showing me around. A great space, lots of natural light in conference rooms (I love that), and as always, the special concierge uniform. ;-)

Looked at various other properties, but one that stands out is the Diamante. Funky! Loved the music that was playing in the common spaces. Great accom rooms - reminded me a lot of the Henry Jones in Hobart.

The Realm Hotel is new, and sleek, beautiful. Doesn't seem to have a lot of space for pre-function, but I'm sure that they are creative about that.

Some great venues - such as the Boat House - for special occassions. Beautiful spot on the lake. so tranquil (except for the cockatoos!). I really enjoyed my time there.

Canberra is a great place for a meeting - everything is so close, and easy to get to. And professional! I guess they have to be, with all those pollies. ;-)

Vietnam

I recently got back from 2 weeks in Vietnam - what a fantastic experience! I was lucky enough to take my six year old, Max, on an Intrepid Family Adventure Tour - I can't tell you what a fantastic time we had!

Vietnam would be a fantastic destination for rewards or incentives for really high performing staff - such an adventure! So very different from your day to day life - I love doing things like that.

We learned so much about the history of Vietnam - not just the various conflicts that have happened (and there have been many!), but the culture and food history, and entertainment and pasttimes of the people, and how they make incense, mats, and conical hats!

We travelled from north to south - being able to spend time on boats (overnight on Ha Long Bay), motorbikes, bicycles, as well as travelling by overnight train on the Reunification Express.

I had clothes made in Hoi An (something that I could get addicted to, let me tell you), and we raced through the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Special thanks to Sonny, our guide. I don't think I ever would have attempted an adventure like that with a six year old, without someone like Sonny to make things happen so smoothly!

If anyone is interested in going to Vietnam, please let me know - if only so that I can re-live some of my adventures, and prolong the holiday....

J ;-)

Mackay - New Convention Centre!

I was lucky enough to visit Mackay recently to check out the new Mackay Convention Centre which is still under construction.

Mackay is going off! I remember going there about ten years ago, and it was like a ghost town. I looked at the Entertainment Centre back then (the new Convention Centre is being built adjacent to the Entertainment Centre - it will all be one building eventually).

I ran an event there about three years ago, and I didn't recognise the place.

Going back last year, I didn't recognise it AGAIN. It has changed so much. There is so much construction and change going on.

Grinders Catering, who has the contract for Catering for the Convention Centre is fantastic - we got to sample a fantastic array of morning & afternoon tea pieces (the vegetarian tart was my absolute favourite). They will do an awesome job. It is fantastic to find such great food in a regional centre!

Events in a Global Financial Crisis

I know, everyone is talking about the GFC. We have had our first conference fall over because of it! So I thought maybe it was time I did a list of things you can do to keep the costs down for your event - so you can still have it.

1. Don't print anything. Do it all via email. Invest in the design for a cool e-newsletter that will catch people's attention, and save the postage.

2. Cut back on theming for dinners. You can be really creative with props from Crazy Clarks, and let's face it, your guests will probably nick the centrepieces anyway. Perhaps invest in the services of a good creative person, but tell them to think outside the box with what you use for the theming. Or try having your dinner at a unique venue, that doesn't need to be themed!

3. Try using edible centrepieces - check out Edible Blooms. That way you can pay for a two course lunch/dinner, and people can eat the choccies (or fruit) from the middle of the table.

4. Twin share your staff accommodation. If they are used to being in single rooms, just tell them that the economy is dictating this. And it might be fun!

5. Some hotels are really feeling it, so now is the time to get some fantastic special deals!

Now is the time to keep your meetings going. The tough times are when everyone needs to band together and move in the same direction. Meetings give you the platform to spread some optimism instead of the doom and gloom, even if you do it on a budget.

J ;-)

Blogging Event

Ok, I have been shamed. After last night's Networx Event, where we had a fantastic panel of new media experts, I realise that I haven't been blogging nearly as much as I should be.

Yaro Starak was our blogger expert, Dale Rankine the mobile phone apps developer from Moket, and Darren Sutton from digital agency XComm opened our eyes to what is coming up in the digital future.

Very cool was being able to project from Dale's Nokia phone on to the big screen - we've never done that before! Death by powerpoint, yes, but I've never seen anyone play a game on their mobile for the whole audience to see! Thanks to Fairchild Multimedia, who always make these things work.... (thanks John!)

Have also been inspired to get on to Twitter (yes, Dale, I'm one of your tweeps!)

Promise, I'll be back soon. I saw a lot of cool new stuff when I went down to AIME (the Australasian Meetings & Incentives Expo) - will update soon!

J ;-)