The Hunter region’s latest conference venue, the new Mercure Newcastle Airport, and the new-look terminal at Newcastle Airport, have been welcomed as huge boons for the local meetings market.
The leaders of the Altogether Perfect marketing group tasked with luring more corporate travellers to Newcastle, Port Stephens and the Hunter Valley have celebrated the revamps and openings, which will help in their quest to entice business travellers to the region.
The $15 million Mercure Newcastle Airport hotel opened on August 1, with special delegate packages just released, while the $14.5 million expansion and redevelopment of Newcastle Airport’s terminal was officially opened on August 28.
“With direct services to cities around Australia, Newcastle Airport is now a shining, world-class gateway to Newcastle, Port Stephens and the Hunter Valley and we now have the first hotel at the airport offering state-of-the-art conference and meeting facilities so together these facilities will significantly enhance the appeal of business events in the Hunter,” Altogether Perfect executive and Destination Port Stephens’ Meetings, Incentive, Conference and Events Manager Rebecca Morley said.
“The airport’s expansion opens the sky for possible direct international services in the future to destinations like New Zealand where Altogether Perfect will hold its first overseas trade show this November to promote our region as a perfect destination for business events.”
Centrally positioned between the blue waters of Port Stephens, the Hunter vineyards and Newcastle’s beaches and business district, the $15 million Mercure Newcastle Airport has released overnight delegate packages from $199 and a free wi-fi offer for conference bookings made by November 30, 2015.
The new $199 package includes meeting facilities for a day for a delegate, morning and afternoon tea, lunch, one night’s accommodation and breakfast the next day. Day delegate packages are competitively priced from $55.
The Accor-owned, carbon-neutral hotel, located in Newcastle Airport’s thriving business precinct 27km from Newcastle and 32km from the heart of Port Stephens, offers 95 sound-proofed rooms, restaurant and bar, airport shuttles, multiple meeting venues catering up to 120 delegates, hi-tech audio-visual equipment and an on-site technician.
Outdoor team activities such a quad biking on Australia’s biggest sand dunes, fishing charters, golf, camel rides on the beach and dolphin cruises are between five and 25 minutes away in the Port Stephens region.
Meanwhile, the refurbishment of Newcastle Airport has seen a 50% expansion of the terminal, a new departure lounge and arrivals hall, dedicated facilities for future international services and new food outlets.
Serving nearby Newcastle, Port Stephens and the Hunter Valley, Newcastle Airport has up to 50 flights a day and services 1.2 million passengers a year. The airport is serviced by Jetstar, QantasLink, Regional Express, Virgin Australia, and FlyPelican. The airlines offer direct flights between Newcastle and Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Gold Coast, Ballina/Byron Bay, Taree and Sydney.
