Sell TNQ Workshop 2006 is a Smash Hit with Buyers and Sellers – Continued – Part 4

The Cairns & Region Convention Bureau concluded its second Sell TNQ Workshop 2006 last week with a total of 28 buyers and media from Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane 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 her presentation, Debra Irvine, Director of Sales, Rydges Hotels & Resorts, Cairns, said that that flexibility was a distinct advantage when selling its 620 rooms.  There are three hotels in the city including “the lead-in property”, the 101 room Rydges Plaza which will undergo a soft refurbishment next year.  Day delegate packages at Rydges start at $42 per person.  In a new development, the 192 hotel rooms and apartments at the Rydges Sabaya Resort in Port Douglas are set to open in 2007.   

Lisleux Afeaki, Director of Sales, North Queensland, said that Voyages offered a series of exceptional conference and incentive facilities unique to Australia such as the Healing Waters Spa at Silky Oaks.  This award winning spa which has views to the rainforest is near the Mossman River.  Meanwhile, a newer entrant in the company’s portfolio is Voyages Wrotham Park Lodge, a 60,000 ha. working cattle station about 5 ½ hours by road from Cairns, she said.

Louise Moffatt, Conference Sales Manager, Outrigger Hotels – Resorts, said that following the mid December sale of the 16 properties in the group to the superannuation company, MFS, a re-branding was expected.  In the North Queensland area there are solo Outrigger properties in Cairns and Palm Cove with three resorts in Port Douglas.  Meetings can be customised in a mix and match arrangement with leisure activities centred on creating team building, she said.

The emphasis at Down Under Tours is a unique and personalised tailor made touring experience, said Karen Turner, Sales Manager MICE/Charter.  There is nothing like “Down Under by Appointment” which features special menus, private tours and a private ranger/guide, she said.  As well, the company operates 23 seat Isuzu coaches and timber floor 4WD Mercedes vehicles equipped with leather business size seats.  All vehicles have distinctive silver exteriors.

Set amid 110 ha. of tropical gardens, the Sheraton Mirage is the largest resort meeting facility in Far North Queensland, said Marian McLeod, Director of Sales and Marketing.  The 294 room/110 villa property which received the “Resort of the Year” award from Luxury Travel in 2005 celebrates 20 years of operations in 2007.  While we are able to cater for up to 1000 conference or incentive delegates we are keen to work with organisers planning smaller functions, as well.  We are happy to quote on any size event, she said.

“We specialise in organising conferences and incentives for groups from 20 to 2500,” said Abbie McCrisken, Manager – North Queensland, Offsite Connections.  The innovative event design and management company invites challenging proposals which are out of the box, she said.  The company that organised “Dreamtime” on the Gold Coast this year won the Meetings and Business Award for Tropical North Queensland in 2006.  

Angela Freeman’s passion about animals has been one reason for the success of Wildlife Tropical North Queensland, a family owned company specialising in the creation and professional management of quality wildlife tourism experiences.  The Director of Marketing, Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, said that a new premium activity for small groups is feeding time at Cairns Tropical Zoo, another of the group’s properties.  After breakfast a keeper joins participants for a look behind the scenes. The zoo which cares for the only red pandas in Queensland can be a part of a post or pre tour program, she said.    

This concludes Thomas E. King, TravelMole’s Travel & Lifestyle Correspondent’s Special Report from Sell TNQ Workshop 2006.

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.