Adelaide Convention Bureau (ACB) continues its imaginative invitation series for association executives, focusing on key industries for the city and the state. With its objective of showcasing South Australia’s leading research themes and innovations, this programme was designed to introduce Adelaide, full of autumnal colour, as a location ideally suited to host national and international agribusiness conventions.
“South Australia is at the forefront of Australia’s food, wine and agricultural research, led by the largest agricultural research and teaching precinct in the Southern Hemisphere at The Waite Research Institute (WRI). From plant breeding to primary production to food safety and post-harvest food quality, South Australia is well positioned to respond to the global upsurge of interest in food and agribusiness thanks to the state’s strong culture of innovation and collaboration between industry and research.”
- Damien Kitto, CEO, ACB
Coinciding with AUSVEG’s event with the Produce Marketing Association's (PMA Australia-NZ) Hort Connections at the Adelaide Convention Centre (ACC), The Agriculture, Food and Wine Showcase 2017 kicked off with a series of presentations introducing the science and impressing guests with the imaginative level of investment in research as well as venue infrastructure.
Attracting 1,500 delegates to the industry conference and trade show, Hort Connections put the venue through its paces with large agricultural machinery on display, not only in the halls but also in the foyers. In keeping with the quality food and wine theme, the ACC Food & Beverage’s Soils and Seasons menu certainly “nurtured nature” with their outstanding South Australian-sourced produce.
Having opened the West and Central Wings, the second stage of the ACC expansion is moving towards completion and has turned its attention to the new East Wing. Launching in August 2017, this will add significant flexible space. With the expo area in the central building, the three separate areas can be either combined for large events or separated for a series of smaller ones:
|
ACC Capacity Increases |
Central & West Buildings |
Central, West & East Buildings |
|
Plenary Hall |
2,500 sq m |
3,500 sq m |
|
Meeting Rooms |
21 |
27 |
|
Exhibition |
15,000 sq m |
20,000 sq m |
In keeping ahead of advancing technology, Australian designers at Macton of Bendigo have created cutting-edge spaces giving fast turnaround times in two revolving “drums”, each seating 320 people, to the rear of the East Wing new plenary hall. Challenges were two-fold: noise/vibration issues, being located above other meeting spaces, and sensitive safety issues with the controls. Both were overcome giving a “first” in this design which, connected to the internet, permits remote fault logging, re-programming and manufacturer upgrades.
Another point of difference at the ACC is in the flexibility of the ceiling-mounted truss grids in the event space which have the capability of being not only vertically raised but also tilted in any direction. Being computer-controlled with load sensing, there is added safety for activity below, which means the sections or “pods” can be moved or manipulated whilst people are below. This is certainly something to get the event planner imagination going.
Guests of ACB were involved in aspects of the industry, from the impact on the land from climate change to veterinary and horticultural science plus wine production, marketing and distribution. All were treated to a day in the Adelaide Hills wineries including Penfolds Magill Estate and a blending session at The Lane Vineyard which very much set the tone for discussions and sparked ideas for off-site functions and events.
Penfolds Kitchen on the Magill Estate, home of the fabled Grange wine:
The Lane Vineyard offers Wine Tasting and Blending for 6-30 people but can do more in two groups and also a seated dinner for 100 people. The management is always interested in discussing other tailor-made experiences.
The perfect compliment to wine in the hills was the cheese. Check out the “Monet”, served by artisan cheese maker Mitch Lloyd of Woodside Cheese Wrights at a rather wonderful location in the hills Adelaide Hills Convention Centre with its very open plan spaces overlooking rolling lawns. The Upper Level of Centre and The Deck Function Room can both host up to 600 pax each for cocktails and the Resort Gardens offer 3,000 sq m of lawn space.
Located in the bequeathed house and grounds of the early settler home of the visionary sheep farmer, Peter Waite, The Waite Research Institute (WRI) is an initiative of the University of Adelaide. The former private home, Urrbrae House, reached by driveway through the Arboretum, is now a museum where guests can be entertained in groups of up to 100 at a time for seminars or social functions by arrangement with the University. There are several areas that can be used: The Dining room for a dinner of up to 24 people; the Drawing Room for up to 70 people in theatre style; the Ballroom for functions up to 100 people and the surrounding Grounds can accommodate functions up to 250 people.
The 307-room Crowne Plaza Adelaide in Hindmarsh Square is only a 15-minute walk to the Adelaide Convention Centre and has designated the top floor of the property for its meeting spaces comprising of a ballroom, seating 350 in theatre style or 250 for banquets, is divisible into four rooms. The pre-function space offers spectacular views over the CBD of the city and the venue is well suited for conferences of 200-300 people.
Spending time in a destination and meeting their scientific peers in such a focused way enabled the guests to easily connect with the locally based scientists. Adelaide’s easy going, sincere desire to encourage and grow these links certainly had a positive impact on how the visitors viewed the convention potential. “Once construction is completed, the Adelaide Riverbank Precinct will arguably represent one of the most attractive options in the world for international conference venues,” said Dr Simon Tierney of the Australian Entomological Society. Inspired by the hosting team, Dr Mathew Tucker of the Australian Society of Plant Scientists concluded, “The Adelaide Convention Bureau makes a compelling case to bring international conferences to Adelaide.”
“Once construction is completed, the Adelaide Riverbank Precinct will arguably represent one of the most attractive options in the world for international conference venues,” said Dr Simon Tierney of the Australian Entomological Society. Inspired by the hosting team, Dr Mathew Tucker of the Australian Society of Plant Scientists concluded, “The Adelaide Convention Bureau makes a compelling case to bring international conferences to Adelaide.”
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