Sell TNQ Workshop 2006 is a Smash Hit with Buyers and Sellers

The Cairns & Region Convention Bureau (a division of Tourism Tropical North Queensland) concluded its second Sell TNQ Workshop 2006 last week. 

A total of 28 buyers and media from Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane were flown to Cairns to meet suppliers, undertake venue inspections, receive up close and personal contact with the rainforest and the reef and participate in a number of incentive-like themed activities.

A full day workshop split between the colonial style Cairns International Hotel and the Cairns Convention Centre provided attendees with intimate one-on-one settings to learn about new developments in the business events arena in Cairns, Palm Cove and Port Douglas and establish working relationships with regional industry principals.

During the workshop, Darlene Holdsworth, Sales Manager, Hilton Cairns, said that all of the hotel’s 264 rooms had been renovated in 2004.  More recent was the opening this year of “6 Degrees”, a stylish lounge bar with water views to Trinity Inlet.  This sophisticated venue, she said, compliments Mondo Gardens, a tree shaded venue for incentives that is just metres from the water.

All of the 314 rooms at the Cairns International Hotel will receive a soft refurbishment during 2007, said Julian Morrison, Sales Manager.  As well, in keeping with the trend to dispense with carpet, all rooms will be tiled.  Mr Morrison said that a major selling point for the garden enhanced property, the largest four star hotel in Cairns, is that it offers true resort style living in the city centre. 

The 321 rooms at the Cairns International Hotel are also set for a soft refurbishment, said Virginia Gow, Sales Manager.  The real excitement, however, is the opening of the day spa in April.  The facility with 10 treatment rooms – only the second spa in the CBD of Cairns – will be the largest spa in North Queensland.  Packages will be available for conference groups.

Caroline Schmidt, Sales & Function Coordinator, Sea Temple Resorts & Spa spoke glowingly about her new ‘twins’: the 126 room intimate boutique property built over 5 acres at Palm Cove and the newer 194 room resort style hotel at Port Douglas.  The latter property with its centrepiece lagoon pool opened in May 2006 on a 10 acre site next to one of the top links courses in Australia.  Both beachfront properties have luxurious spas and full conference facilities, she said.

Bright Black AV under the guidance of Liam Elliston, Director, has been producing cutting edge AV displays for some 20 years.  Mr Elliston said that two mistakes made by many companies trying to produce their own audio visual materials is the lack of uniformity in presentations and not incorporating local content.  As well as producing customised templates for clients he said he had substantial knowledge about the local area and its many attractions and this could be used in attention getting 3-D displays.

All 180 rooms at the Pacific International Cairns were upgraded in 2005 with new furniture blending in with the modern décor said Debbie Symonds, Sales Executive.  New for 2007 will be wireless connectivity throughout the hotel.  This is not common in 4 ½ star hotels in Cairns so it will definitely be a selling point for attracting conferences, she said.  The hotel has recently introduced new day and half day conference packages.

The Sebel Reef House and Spa is unlike any another property in Cairns and Palm Cove said Ben Dando, Business Development Manager.  Built in 1958 as a VIP Guest House, the boutique 69 room hotel is studded with military antiques.  Surrounded by tropical gardens and with its own cascading waterfall, the hotel – sometimes referred to as the Raffles of North Queensland – has won industry awards for its ambiance as well as its restaurant.

Natalie Shearer, Sales Executive, Flames of the Forest, said that this five star theatre style rainforest dining experience is targeted at convention delegates and incentive participants.  Located in a candlelit area near a creek in a rainforest setting just 15 minutes from Port Douglas, the novel dining experience can cater to between 20 and 1000 people with a three course meal of North Queensland produce.  The company has a responsible replanting policy that ensures that a tree is planted for every person who dines at Flames of the Forest.  To date more than 1 million trees have been planted

New in 2006 at the Thala Beach Lodge, Port Douglas, is a private observatory so that guests at this upmarket property surrounded on three sides by the Coral Sea can probe the heavens while listening to the sounds of the Tropics, said Michael J. Heaver, Sales & Marketing Manager.  Some 84 deluxe timber bungalows have been sensitively built on poles in a privately owned 145 acre plot so as to cause minimum impact in this pristine part of the rainforest, he said.  Gourmet cuisine and new nature experiences add to the wilderness ambiance. 

Sell TNQ Part 2 continues tomorrow.

The next Sell TNQ Workshop will take place in mid 2007.  Conference and incentive organisers and other buyers wishing to receive an invitation can express their interest by emailing [email protected].  Participation will only be confirmed after qualification criteria are met. 

Requests to be placed on the mailing list for the e-mail newsletter Tropical Insight and to receive a copy of the detailed Cairns and Region Convention Bureau Meeting and Incentive Planners’ Guide can also be sent to the same address. 

Check www.tropicalaustralia.com for updated information about the next TNQ Workshop.

Part 1 of a 3 part Exclusive Report by Thomas E. King, TravelMole’s Travel & Lifestyle Correspondent