Welcome
2019 will see the Sunshine Coast playing host to a record number of Business Event Assisted Program (BEAP) sponsored conferences. These include the United Nations and Overseas Policing Association of Australia, FEARLESS PTSD, ASICS Sports Medicine Australia, 37th Australasian Polymer Symposium, AUSTSWIM “Soak it Up’ conference, the Performing Arts Connection Australia conference and National Performing Arts Exchange.
In addition to these conference events, the 2019 Queensland Tourism Awards will be held on the Sunshine Coast for the first time in what is a massive coup for the region. The largest tourism industry gathering in Queensland is a three day event that includes the Queensland Tourism Industry Council’s Indigenous Tourism Forum, the annual Destination Q Forum and the Queensland Tourism Awards gala ceremony.
Sunshine Coast News
The inaugural Curated Plate culinary festival being held in August on the Sunshine Coast has announced more exciting feature events from its debut program. Showcasing the best chefs from Australia and around the world, The Curated Plate will burst with unique culinary events that span the Sunshine Coast, from four-course dinners on Mooloolaba Beach to a celebration of feijoa fruit in the Hinterland. Debut events include The Legends Lunch at Yandina Station with chefs Peter Gilmore and Analiese Gregory and Seasonal Stars on Mooloolaba Beach with chef Raymond Blanc OBE, the Sunshine Coast’s own Alejandro Cancino and chef Troy Rhoades-Brown. To see the full line-up of events and ticketing details, visit here.
The Big Pineapple’s $150 million master plan is set to restore the Sunshine Coast icon back to its former glory. New attractions for the sprawling 170ha site include the recently opened TreeTop Challenge, a water park, adventure precinct, major concert event space and on-site accommodation as well as a $60 million-dollar agribusiness precinct. Learn more here.
Queensland Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones has announced the State Government will partner with Australia Zoo to build an $8 million wildlife camping experience, called Camp Croc Hunter. The new initiative is expected to open in 2020, and will provide a wide range of accommodation options including glamping-style tents and eco cabins.
Creative Tours and Events has launched a new Hinterland Farm to Fork Tour that offers guests a journey through the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, providing a hands-on experience at Sunshine Coast Coffee Roastery, The Falls Farm and Maleny Wagyu, before finishing at Brouhaha Brewery for a four-course degustation of the local produce paired with four of Brouhaha’s craft beers.
Boosting connectivity
The Sunshine Coast is serviced by direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Auckland (seasonal), and now the destination is even more accessible for conference groups – especially for overseas delegates. Qantas has added a second daily direct service from Sydney which departs mid-morning, providing seamless one-ticket flights for travellers arriving from Europe, America, Asia and the Pacific.
And for the future, Sunshine Coast Airport will launch a new runway at the end of 2020 that will allow for more international direct flights from around the Asia-Pacific region.
Venue News
The Sunshine Coast Convention Centre (SCCC ) managed by Accor will deliver much needed capacity making the Sunshine Coast a more competitive and attractive conference and event destination. The new $8 million SCCC is ideal for events of up to 1500 delegates, tradeshows that require more than 3000 square metres of exhibition space, and events that benefit from making use of the versatility of the Novotel Twin Water’s extensive grounds. Click here to view brochure
Meet Business Events Sunshine Coast at these upcoming industry events
July – ConveneQ Brisbane
Oct – Sunshine Soiree Brisbane
Dec – PCOA Conference Sydney
