by Trevor Connell It all started on the red carpet – there to greet guests were Staging Connections’ stylist Anthony Del Col and Tanya Brown (National Business Development Manager) interviewing the arrivals for a direct webcast of the event.  Then red carpet photos by EventPix in front of the media wall, then off to the bubbly. SCEC [...]

The MEA conference opening night party was held at the Marquee nightclub at The Star.  The nightclub had opened just three weeks earlier. The journey from the conference centre to The Star was made through threatening rain with student volunteers guiding the way with light wands (and with umbrellas at the ready).  Then up the [...]

Recruiters share with ISES members the best ways to find and keep the best talent. Report and photos by Nate Cochran Even in a tight job market where talented staff are hard to find, a simple “thank you” may be enough on a daily basis to keep employees motivated and productive, delegates to ISES’ second [...]

The MEA SA awards dinner was a classy affair when guests gathered in the Crystal Room of the Stamford Plaza Adelaide. Highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Muriel Ellis Award for outstanding service to the meetings and events industry in SA to Rob Bulfield – a very popular recipient. Other awards went [...]

More than 100 Queensland key industry party-goers glammed up to attend Thursday’s Queensland MEA awards at The Edge, at State Library.  With delicious catering by Ab Fab Catering, pre-event drinks were a time of networking with friends and colleagues before moving into the auditorium for the awards ceremony. MC Glenn Searle from InspHigher offered witty [...]

The annual Victorian Meetings & Events Industry Awards for 2011 was hosted by the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre on Tuesday 13 March 2012. Opulent lamps marked each table, the Banquet Room’s walls draped with picturesque images aligned with the evening’s theme of ‘Melbourne City Lights’. The night celebrated the success of each Award recipient [...]

About 300 meeting and events professionals glammed up for the annual night of nights for the NSW and ACT industry awards at the Sofitel Wentworth in Sydney to laud the best in the business. Report and photos by Trevor Connell and Nate Cochran The theme of the night was the Essence of Success and awards [...]

The Melbourne Pavilion is new to the city’s event scene.  So new in fact that our bus driver had trouble finding it. The venue is mostly used for boxing and occasional concerts, so this was quite an eye popper for the AIME delegates and exhibitors. It is a big space with two main rooms and [...]

ISES Sydney members hear from the brains behind Australia’s biggest New Year’s celebrations on how they avoid fizzers. Story and pix by Nate Cochran and Trevor Connell The term, “Don’t rain on my parade” has special meaning for event planners such as Gill Minervini, who had no less than four contingency plans should the heavens [...]

Sydney’s MCA is due to reopen next month.  In the meantime level 3 has reopened with an exhibition by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer.  The new rooftop function venues have been operating for a couple of months. The first NSW ClubMEA of the year commenced with a visit to the Lozano-Hemmer exhibition – very interactive – then guests [...]

The old world ambience of the Sebel Treasury was a fitting venue for this year’s ClubMEA Christmas Party, themed Bonnie & Clyde. Guests arrived to the mellow tunes of a three piece jazz band and were greeted by a myriad of flapper dresses, feather boas, fedora hats and pearls. Beverages and canapés floated around the [...]

Report by Trevor Connell The ISES Sydney end of year party was attended by around 150 guests who gathered in a light drizzle at the Opera House to be transferred across the harbour to a sheltered bay near Taronga Zoo.  Spirits were high as we thundered across the harbour but faltered a little when our [...]

It turns out MEA members are a hardy lot.  Especially when it comes to End of Year parties. Trevor Connell reports on the MEA NSW end of year party Typically in November the storms roll through Sydney and clear up for the evening. However last Wednesday the Sydney weather was atypical, the rain just kept [...]

Story and pix by Josephine Ki Location, location, location. Always an important factor in any events planning and MEA certainly hit the spot with their sold-out October networking event Club MEA. With 360 degree views of Sydney Harbour, The Island presents itself as a floating open-air establishment that fuses European beach club culture and 5-star [...]

report and photos by Trevor Connell Take the advice of someone who states “My dad does pretty good parties.” That was the recommendation from Peter Jones’ daughter as seen in one of the video tributes to the man who was celebrating 20 years in the business as The Ringmaster of Razzle Dazzle (as he was [...]

the MEA spring breakfast at the The Sun Room, Ivy story and photos by Cynthia Sciberras Featuring a very creative panel David O’Brien – Head Chef, Functions & Events, Merivale Kristen Stanisich – Director, DIA & Director SJB interiors Kate Ainscough – Interior Designer, RLD Facilitator – Anders Sorman-Nilsson Early morning breakfast functions aren’t always [...]

By Joanne Rosanoski On September 15th ‘The Star’, formerly named Star City Casino, opened its doors onto an orange carpet welcoming a plethora of Australian talent and celebrity for a launch that was spectacular enough to signify the change, from what was regarded as a tacky casino, to a new and innovative entertainment quarter in [...]

yMEA function report and photos by Alicia Lansdown. The night kicked off at the Vibe Hotel in Milsons Point with a few champagnes, whilst A1 Audio setup the AV. The first speaker of the night is Melissa Park, a self-made Event Director and owner of Melissa Park Events. Melissa spoke about her experience and past [...]

The Trippas White Group hosted the Sydney ClubMEA August function at Sky Venue atop Sydney Tower. Guests arrived just as the sun was setting and with a view from 300 metres above the Sydney CBD had a spectacular view of the sunset over the Blue Mountains and of the city below. Linden Davidson, Concierge Manager [...]

The annual ISES Melbourne Gala Dinner is the chapter’s feature event of the year and this year it was held in the wonderful, iconic, Myer Mural Hall. report and social pix by Trevor Connell I first visited the Mural Hall some years ago to see an exhibition and was struck by the beauty and potential [...]

Report by Trevor Connell, photos by O’Neill Photographics I’m told that Bungalow 8 on a Friday night is crowded, busy and noisy.  That feel was recreated for the SES/ABEE Party After Dark this year as 850 guests descended on the venue. Setting it apart from a regular Friday night though was the mix of people [...]

The Sun Room at Ivy is very bright and breezy, just what was needed on a wet Sydney July night. The monthly ISES Sydney networking event featured tabletop showcases from a dozen or so members and presentations by Terry Kaljo from Contemporary Hotels and David O’Brien, Merivale’s Events executive chef. The evening kicked off with [...]

The RSVP Party After Dark is always anticipated as a highlight of the trade show. This year’s event was held in the mezzanine area of the iconic Royal Exhibition Building which meant that exhibitors and visitors only had to walk up the stairs to get there. The event was spread over two separate areas with [...]

report and photos by Josephine Ki With the trade show season around the corner, everyone is looking to barter in on strategies and innovative concepts to put their business on the frontline. Last week, ISES’s monthly event held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, was attended by professionals in the events industry eager to [...]

Report and photography by Alicia Lansdown As I walk off the Promenade at King Street wharf my eyes are mildly amazed at the fit out of Strike. I’m instantly greeted by the lovely Lisa Whelan who gives me a short brief, nametag and drink voucher. Things had already warmed up by the time I arrived [...]

This month ISES Sydney chapter members went on a quest to learn the importance of good wine and how best to match the beverages to the food served at an event. Report and photos by Cynthia Sciberras Tom Stanford, from John Boston Premium Beverages shared his enthusiasm and expert knowledge, giving guests his three key [...]

The Australian Event Awards for 2011 are currently being launched via a series of events around Australia.  At the first one in Sydney the founder of the awards, Ian Steigrad talked about the awards, this is a summary of his presentation. Why have an Australian Event Awards? Encourage industry identity. Encourage and promote outstanding events, [...]

I really wasn’t sure how this was going to work. We were told it was to be a silent rave party. Initially I thought “well that’s stupid”. Then I thought “could be great for networking” – no loud music to drown out the conversation. So, some initial milling around – mostly getting fed (catering by [...]

MEA conference welcome reception at Gallery of Modern Art.  The exhibition 21st Century Art was in its closing week so it was great to get one more look at this eclectic exhibition. Guests were greeted with bubbly served by a hanging waiter then into the main entry where Caxton St Catering were offering culinary delights.  [...]

The SCEC Ballroom looked stunning and so did the guests. The award presentations rocked along under the direction of MC Lochie Daddo, the entertainment sparkled and the dinner was worthy of any fine restaurant – just the ideal awards dinner. The opening entertainment act was The Supreme Motown Show.  The three lead girls had all [...]

ISES Sydney kicked off the year with a look behind the scenes of the recent Big O events. Chapter president Jeremy Garling directed the questions to Emma Sturgiss from Tourism Australia and Victoria Doidge, Marketing Manager for the Sydney Opera House. Every one involved in the event had been tied to confidentiality agreements but here [...]

The rain held off and over 300 guests partied in the “Garden of Temptation” overlooking Sydney Harbour.  With the Oprah circus packed off guests took advantage of this break in Sydney’s weather to enjoy the delights of the harbour forecourt of the Opera House. Marlo Leighton from Divine Events created the Garden of Temptation using [...]

The third annual PCO conference was held in Hobart and attracted around 300 delegates including a considerable number from New Zealand, an indication of how popular the conference should be when held in Christchurch next year. The conference sessions were conducted in the Wrest Point Conference Centre with an accompanying trade show. The welcome cocktail [...]

This year the ISES Sydney chapter held their Christmas party at the top of the Sydney Skyline – Sky Venue, the exclusive new venue of Sydney Tower Dining. This venue has recently reopened as part of the mega-dollar upgrade of Westfield’s flagship shopping complex in the centre of Sydney and is the highest event space [...]

The festive season got into full swing at the MEA VIC Christmas Party on the 6 December. Guests arrived by car, tram or boat at the stylish Mezzanine Room, 3 Station Pier, located on the water’s edge of Port Phillip Bay. Floor to ceiling windows provided the perfect setting with picturesque views of the city [...]

Latest venture from ARIA partners Matt Moran and Peter Sullivan launched at Strickland house. The ARIA experience is about to go Sydney wide, with today’s launch of Matt Moran and Peter Sullivan’s latest venture, ARIA Catering. With ARIA Catering, the team behind one of Sydney’s most celebrated culinary success stories will meet demand for spectacular, [...]

Live oyster shucking, tea cupping, pavlova decorating and bike building were among insider experiences showcased to professional meeting planners last week, as part of the launch of InterContinental Meetings in Australasia. The major launch event for the region was held in the ballroom and Treasury corridors of InterContinental Sydney last week, which were transformed with [...]

Hotel manager Michael Fahey welcomed ISES members and guests to the Civic Hotel for the November get together.  Pearl Catering provide catering services at the hotel and turned on a delightful set of canapés. Sydney International Food Festival director Joanna Savill spoke about the logistics of staging food based events in and around Sydney. It [...]

The closing function of the annual AACB conference was held at the Ford Discovery Centre in Geelong. Pre-function drinks were partaken in the upper level of the centre which provides an insight to the manufacturing process along with cutaway versions of various vehicles and mechanics. Then downstairs to the main floor that houses the historic [...]

September NSW Club MEA networking at Bavarian Bier Café York Keller Sampling German beers and fine food was just the go to launch into September

Report by Trevor Connell – photography by Nigel Welch The ISES regional conference may have been postponed through lack of interest but there was plenty of support for the annual gala dinner put on by the Melbourne chapter. The dinner was held at the Hilton on the Park Melbourne which has recently undergone a $40 [...]

Canberra Convention Bureau hold regular networking events to connect members with potential clients drawn primarily from government and associations represented in the ACT. The August networking event was held at the Belconnen Premier Inn with over 100 guests in attendance including representatives from the ACT Greens – courting the corporate vote in the upcoming election. [...]

A lively event produced by Belle-Laide Events at the Museum of Sydney that kicked on into the night. The event was big on networking and featured an interactive photo wall and a media wall that told the story of Sydney and the RSVP exhibitors. A marquee on the forecourt was a first for this venue. [...]

Report and photography by Saffrine Nydegger With a fabulous industrial feel of polished concrete floors, exposed steel rods and large thick pillars, Simmer on the Bay is one of Sydney’s great new event venues. Situated on Hickson Road with glimpses of Sydney Harbour through the wharves that house the arts community including Sydney Theatre Company [...]