Review of Past MEA Events
New South Wales
Professional Development: Site Inspection of an International Congress
Tuesday 12 August 2008
Over 40 guests went behind the scenes of the largest congress coming to Sydney in 2008. MEA guests met at Harbours Edge Events Centre to hear from key players who brought this conference together, including Virginia Loyola, Bid Director at the Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB) who discussed how the World Congress of the Transplantation Society was won for Sydney. Annabel Davis, Director of Sales International of the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre will talk about the key venue challenges faced during such a large congress and Karine Bulger, CEO of The Meeting Planners who provided an insightful lesson into how a congress of this scale is managed. Followed by a guided site inspection of the conference at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre by staff of The Meeting Planners, this event proved to be very insightful and extremely worthwhile.
Articulated Professional Development: Building Business Relationships
Tuesday 26 August 2008
MEA NSW was excited with the success of its first Articulated PD topic – Learn how to Establish and Conduct Business Relationships - at Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre with speaker Jacqui Muir AFMEA, The Conference Manager. MEA is a Nationally Recognised Training organisation (RTO) and this session equates to a unit of competency included in a qualification that is accredited under the Australian Qualifications Framework. To gain the formal Certificate of Completion for this unit of competency an assessment must be successfully completed which incurs an additional fee. The formal Certificate of Completion can be used towards a Diploma of Event Management or Certificate IV in Tourism (Sales & Marketing).
Thanks to our PD sponsor Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre for their ongoing support.
ClubMEA: The QVB Tea Room
Wednesday 27 August 2008
ClubMEAs in NSW continued to be well attended, even through the colder months, with the recent event at the Tea Room in central Sydney’s Queen Victoria Building.
The Tea Room is located in what was once the original grand ballroom in the landmark Queen Victoria Building. Renovated by Annette Park. This beautiful venue stunned around 90 guests on Wednesday 27 August as they enjoy were treated to delicious savoury and sweet canapés and drinks whilst meeting, greeting and catching up with one another.
South Australia
ClubMEA at AAMI Stadium
Wednesday 20 August 2008
MEA’s SA members were invited to AAMI Stadium, home to fierce rivals the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide where Justin Cavenett, Encore Group’s General Manager welcomed guests and informed them about the upcoming multi-million dollar developments to the stadium.
Guided tours were also arranged where guest were lead through the teams change rooms and out onto the football grounds. Some lucky die hard footy fans won prizes for being the best dressed in their teams colours.
Thank you to Encore Group for putting on such a wonderful event.
Victoria
Professional Development: PR Campaigns – newsworthy and noticeable
Thursday 14 August 2008
Back by popular demand, Janelle Schreiber returned for this follow-up session to ‘Public Relations and the Media’ to take members through practical examples of PR Campaigns for conferences, exhibitions and events.
Janelle also discussed the rise of online media, social networks and how and when to incorporate these new media into campaigns.
Attendees enjoyed the opportunity to use the session to ‘workshop’ a future event and put some of the theory into practice.
Special thanks Janelle Schreiber and to our 2008 Victorian partners in excellence, Audio Visual Dynamics and Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
ClubMEA: Behind the Scenes at Crown Melbourne
Wednesday 20 August 2008
Recently an intimate group joined MEA Victoria on an intimate tour behind the scenes at Crown Melbourne. Guests gathered for a drink and to catch up after a busy day at work before being guided through the maze of kitchens at Australia’s largest banqueting operation. Guests enjoyed an amazing sample of Crown’s fabulous food and wine. Everyone was certainly impressed and thoroughly enjoyed experiencing first-hand Crown’s world-class chefs at work and marvelling at the craftsmanship and precision behind every dish created.
Congratulations to Jacqui Muir and Nathan Kayser on winning the door prizes and special thanks to all the team at Crown who made us feel so welcome.
(Pictured from Left to Right: Jacqui Muir, Narelle Burns & Kristy Floucher; and Guests in the Kitchen)
Student Insights Seminar
Friday 22 August 2008
MEA Victoria once again held the Student Insights Seminar for all tourism, events and hospitality students and trainers. This year around 250 students attended to hear from a range of key meetings and events industry players about their career development.
In addition to picking up valuable tips on how to get their own career started a select group of students jumped at the opportunity to volunteer to manage the registration process for their individual institute. These students saw first-hand behind-the-scenes activities and were able to put some of the theory they have been learning into practice and we wish them well as they enter this exciting and rewarding industry.
(Pictured from Left to Right: Lulu Nyirenda & Effie Christoudias; and Student Voluteers)