The Hunter region is set to attract new business tourism following the opening of the largest NSW Convention Centre North of Sydney.
The Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley Conference & Events Centre was officially unveiled to event planners and guests on Friday night, and is expected to create new revenue opportunities for the largest regional resort in NSW with just over 300 rooms and villas.
“Our mission is to make the Hunter Valley one of the key business events regional areas in Australia,” Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, general manager, Robert Coates said.
The $4 million centre, which features four 14-meter pylons preserved from the Sydney Convention Centre before its renovations, provides the Hunter region with MICE facilities that can cater for up to 1000 delegates for the first time.
“The new Conference and Events Centre will position the Hunter Valley as a leading Australian conference and events destination. Offering guests the latest technology and a light-filled design in a state-of-the-art venue with a combined 2,000 square metres of pre-function, meeting and exhibition space coupled with a unique wine country destination,” Coates said.
In conjunction with a 50% expansion for Newcastle Airport and its improved infrastructure to cater for international services in future, the region is expected to provide competition to the business-events’ old time favourite, QLD’s Gold Coast.
“We will work with others within the region to build bigger events for the Hunter Valley. We want to be a credible option to the Gold Coast and other destinations that can do great big collaborative events,” Coates said.
“We have already received large scale group bookings for 2015 resulting in 20% growth in business events and many in the pipeline for 2016.”
The integrated resort also launched its new signature events package, Harvest Hunter, incorporating the best of the region’s local produce, entertainment and award winning wines in an outdoor setting.
“I can’t think of anywhere in Australia where we have a regional area like this,” IHG, chief operating officer, Australasia, Japan, Korea & AMEA franchising, Karin Shepperd said.
“We can make a difference in business events. This can be something that truly marks a next phase in what we can do together.”
The resort will continue with further improvements, extending its Tea Tree Spa with an additional five treatment rooms slated to open later this year.
See the photo’s from the night here.
