As the largest regional city in Australia – the largest city outside the five major capitals – the Gold Coast is quickly building a profile as a business hub. In 2017, business trips to the city grew by an immense 19 per cent, according to figures from Tourism and Events Queensland.
The Gold Coast is also developing a reputation for significant conferences by national businesses and peak bodies. This year, the city played host to the national meetings for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian Property Institute and the Finance and Treasury Association, while next year, the national conventions for the Project Management Institute, the Leading Property Managers Association and the Retail Global Conference & Expo are booked in.
Conferences on the Gold Coast
There are several reasons the Gold Coast is an excellent place for national conferences. It offers direct, inexpensive flights to and from the major cities of Sydney and Melbourne multiple times per day and is within driving distance of Brisbane.
The Gold Coast’s population of more than half a million means it has high-quality infrastructure, while the new light rail system – which continues to expand – makes the city easily accessible. An array of restaurants and an eclectic nightlife present plenty of options for delegates to unwind or catch up amongst themselves formally or informally.
Finally, the Gold Coast is home to some of the nation’s most iconic beaches and theme parks, giving delegates plenty of options for their downtime.
Elite Holiday Homes
There are also a range of diverse accommodation options on the Gold Coast for conference attendees, including hotels, resorts, Airbnb or holiday homes.
Elite Holiday Homes offers a network of holidays homes over the Gold Coast that are ideally suited for conference delegates. Here’s why:
1. Features
After a busy day at a conference, Elite Holiday Homes represent the ideal escape for delegates to recharge and enjoy their space. The homes are well-proportioned properties with spacious bedrooms and often feature swimming pools, entertainment rooms and/or cinema rooms. All homes come with a Wi-Fi and Foxtel package so it’s possible to stay up-to-date with the latest news and all the urgent work from the office.
The large living areas in the home – sometimes indoor and outdoor areas – provide ample space for team discussions, if you want to take them away from the convention venue. Alternatively, some of the living areas are large enough to serve as the venue for your conference (depending on the number of delegates).
2. Proximity
Elite Holiday Homes are based in the hubs of the Gold Coast, including Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Burleigh. These suburbs possess the city’s prominent dining precincts and entertainment options, boast world-class beaches, and are all connected to each other through the light rail system. Most Elite Holiday homes are either within walking distance or are a short drive away from the heart of these precincts.
Many Elite Holiday Homes – including Jewel of Broadbeach, Flamingo Key and Blue Waters Retreat are in Broadbeach and are a short walk away from the Gold Coast’s premier conferencing facility, the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
3. My Holiday Concierge
Guests of Elite Holiday Homes have exclusive access to My Holiday Concierge, a service designed to make stays even easier. One of the most popular services provided by My Holiday Concierge is its culinary team, which can visit any Elite Holiday Home and prepare anything from a satisfying barbecue to a sumptuous two-course feast. You can put a menu together for yourself or your entire group and the qualified chefs on the My Holiday Concierge team can cater for any dietary requirements. They can also bake special cakes or prepare for celebrations if required.
My Holiday Concierge can organise transfers for delegates between Elite Holiday Homes and the Gold Coast Airport or conferencing venues or, alternatively, arrange car or bus hire. The team can also provide gift packs for guests, give an Elite Holiday Home an extra clean if required during a longer conference, or organise tours or activities for team building sessions.
My Holiday Concierge extends the same service to any conference group, whether it’s as large as 500 people or as small as eight.
4. Event planners
Skilled event planners are available for your conference through My Holiday Concierge. The service can assign a dedicated conference coordinator who can prepare the logistics and organise venues – whether you want to use an Elite Holiday Home as a venue or an offsite Gold Coast venue for a larger group.
Coordinators can organise team building sessions and they can get expert advice for you from some of Australia’s leading professionals to ensure your event is a memorable success.
See how your conference can benefit from using Elite Holiday Homes and My Concierge! Click here to take a look at the Elite Holiday Home portfolio, and here to find out the services My Concierge offers. Alternatively, contact us today for more information on +61 7 5592 3881 or info@eliteholidayhomes.com.au.