Cementing the Tropical North as a premiere business destination while continuing to deliver creative, sustainable, world-class events with impact is the focus for Cairns Convention Centre as it marks the opening of its AUD$176m expansion.
Janet Hamilton, general manager at Cairns Convention Centre, says the expansion adds a rooftop banquet area, three new meeting rooms, an exhibition and plenary lecture space in the 10,500sqm of new floor space now available. This gives Cairns Convention Centre the ability to host multiple or larger events, with conventions and exhibitions of up to 2,500 guests now able to be accommodated in the entire venue.
“Coupled with the latest audio-visual technology, laser projectors and digital lecterns, conference organisers will have much greater flexibility when delivering events,” she explains. “The new interior includes an exhibition space for up to 30 display booths and a flat floor plenary lecture area that holds nearly 400 people theatre-style, which can also be divided into two equal rooms. Also, on this level are three new meeting rooms, which can hold over 130 delegates each in theatre-style or when combined as one larger space, can host 400 theatre-style.”
As an international-class venue at the gateway to two spectacular World Heritage environments, Hamilton says the new Trinity Level frames the region’s beautiful natural views and enables delegates to enjoy the Cairns destination while inside. “The Trinity Room is ideal for gala dinners and large cocktail functions and can host up to 500 people, while the large pre-function space and the outdoor Trinity Terrace offers stunning views over the Trinity Inlet. This amazing outdoor area is ideal for cocktail functions, lunches or unique events wanting to enjoy Cairns’ beautiful tropical weather,” she adds.
On the business side of activities, as hybrid meeting space needs become more complex, Cairns Convention Centre has a raft of audio-visual equipment to keep pace with the most demanding of presentation needs. “Hybrid meetings and online collaborations are here to stay and we are fortunate to deliver the most complex needs in a simplified format, all backed by an outstanding technical team,” says Hamilton.
PTZ cameras have been fitted across all the meeting spaces, offering pan, tilt and zoom control features and there are now digital lecterns with built-in preview monitors for easy reference to presentation notes. “These lecterns provide presenters a level of comfort with an upfront display and touch panel controls so they can control AV features within the room when, and if, required,” the GM says.
“The level of AV integration within the venue rooms are outstanding and provide a high level of flexibility to meet the most demanding needs. Centre-wide we provide high resolution laser projectors in every room, which provide a bright, crisp image enabling the finest details within presentations.”
Hamilton notes that, in the Cairns Convention Centre’s larger spaces, there is the option of utilising a large format 15 metre screen with three projector blend. “This screen and projector combination enables multi content to be simultaneously displayed on a huge surface. Along with these options we also support large-format LED wall requirements, which can be configured to meet the client’s needs,” she says.
While all this technology takes energy to run, delegates can rest assured the carbon footprint of their event is offset by the Cairns Convention Centre’s commitment to sustainability and fostering positive environmental initiatives in the region. “The best way to encourage people to protect an area is to learn about it,”Hamilton says.
As an eco-tourism destination between the two World Heritage listed areas of the Wet Tropics Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, the Cairns Convention Centre is well placed to introduce delegates to the assets of the region and give them meaningful interactions with the natural and cultural environment.
Hamilton says events held at Cairns Convention Centre can utilise the Reforest programme organised by Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef. Through the programme, delegates help eliminate an event’s carbon impact by supporting localised tree planting and revegetation programmes, like the endangered Mabi rainforest which is the home of the Lumholtz tree kangaroo on the Atherton Tablelands.
Reef Connect is another programme where delegates can contribute to the protection of the Great Barrier Reef. Marine biologists and cultural guides offer educational tours where guests learn about conservation programmes and gather valuable data while snorkelling, or learn about traditional music, art, weapons, and shields and hear creation stories about the Great Barrier Reef. “By contributing to these activities, delegate can feel good that their attendance is having a positive effect on protecting these national treasures,” Hamilton says.
Even its proximity to surrounding hotels enables delegates to walk to the venue and experience the beautiful outside surroundings. “The centre’s design and construction ensures it is the most energy-efficient building possible in a tropical environment,” Hamilton adds. “High performance glazing on the building increases energy efficiency by up to 30%, and 1,200 sun blades and biophilic design living greenery over the façade reduce heat gain from the Sun.
“Smart building management systems monitor and control power usage daily. All the lighting is high-efficiency LED with automated dimming control and motion sensors, we have solar-boosted hot water generation and energy efficient fans and equipment. We are installing electric vehicle charging stations and priority is given to Energy Star ratings when buying new appliances.”
Local biodiversity is enhanced with native species making up at least 50% of the garden plantings. Rainwater storage, recycled irrigation and water-wise greenery add to the water saving measures outside. Inside, the building uses electrolysed water in lieu of chemicals for food safety sterilisation, low flow taps, dual flush toilets and early leak detection to minimise water loss.
There is onsite sorting of all recyclables and waste management tracking to minimise the flow-on environmental impact of operations. “Approximately 8,000 litres of grease from the kitchens are sent to a third-party vendor for conversion to biofuel, we are part of the Plastic Free Cairns programme and we choose suppliers that use minimum landfill,” Hamilton notes.
The centre’s new executive chef David Hart is also well placed to encourage sustainable practices in the wider community, with a passion for using only the best seasonal produce and a food philosophy of simple, fresh and local. He says when it came to using local produce with low food miles and sustainability front and centre of farming operations, Cairns Convention Centre came out on top with the Atherton Tablelands, Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest right on its doorstep.
“Endemic native ingredients, tropical fruits, vegetables, fish, beef, dairy, coffee, vanilla, tea – we are definitely spoilt when it comes to the range of choice and the products we can use to create truly unique dishes that best represent our region,” Hart says.
David Hart has 17 years in the culinary world behind him, with leadership experience in luxury hotels around the world including The Stables Resort Perisher, Sofitel Brisbane and the Pullman International Cairns.
As staff, suppliers and other partners with the Cairns Convention Centre are united by their environmental philosophies, the brand philosophy of “passion is in our nature” is sure to inspire a flood of delegates and events to this exciting and expansive award-winning venue.
For more info visit us at : www.cairnsconvention.com.au
Contact details
Wayne Smith
Business Development Director
