What better way to spend a cold winter’s night in Melbourne than turning up the heat at The Sebel Albert Park to celebrate the transformation of their Grand Ballroom.
With a $1.5 million upgrade to showcase, the hotel team, led by General Manager Craig Bond, put on a spectacular night that amazed and entertained more than 450 invited guests and put the Ballroom firmly back on Melbourne’s venue A-list.
Working in partnership with event producers DG global and in-house technology provider Staging Connections, the team put on an elaborate affair that unfolded within three individually styled areas of the banquet floor.
The evening started and finished with fantastic entertainment from some of Australia’s finest, including Wilbur Wilde, Joe Camilleri, Freddie Strauks, Lisa Edwards and 80’s cover band, Stand and Deliver.
In between, there was a superb four-course menu created by new Executive Chef David Albert, which culminated in more than 2,500 petit desserts served to the table.
Undoubtedly though, the WOW moment came when the drapes parted to reveal a flaming cocktail bar, and guests quickly lined up to sample some of the unique cocktails on offer before hitting the dance floor.
According to Craig Bond, the evening was designed to showcase a new direction for the hotel’s event business, which includes a major investment in technology and infrastructure together with greater emphasis on quality, creativity and originality.
“The hotel can offer so much to the conference and/or event organiser sourcing a venue in Melbourne,” said Craig. “We have the food, the ideas and the space – and we also have the location. Whilst still quite close to the city, we are far enough away not to have to vie with inner-city demands for parking and taxis.
“As a guest, there is nothing worse than having to queue for hours to get a taxi at the end of the night,” he said. “The hotel offers valet parking and over 600 underground car parking spaces and there’s not the competition from other venues and events for taxis,” said Craig.
The Sebel & Citigate Albert Park Melbourne is part of the Mirvac group of 45+ hotels and resorts in Australia and New Zealand under such well known brands as Quay Grand, The Como, Quay West Apartments & Resorts, Sea Temple Resorts & Spas, Sydney Marriott Hotel, Citigate Hotels, the Hotel Lindrum Melbourne, Harbour Rocks Hotel Sydney and of course The Sebel Hotels, Resorts and Residences.
Joe Camilleri, Freddie Strauks and Wilbur Wilde
Leeroy from Twisted Liquid fires up the crowd....
... and the crowd loved it
