The ‘Red Centre,’ including Alice Springs, is well serviced by a number of airlines. As a result, competitive fares and regular services are available to the region from a network of ports throughout Australia.

Event planners such as Erin Vistarini from the Destination Group of Companies have specifically noted the convenience of the central location.

“I would definitely recommend Alice Springs as a destination for a conference group,” says Vistarini. “The flight schedules allow people from all over Australia to arrive within 2.5 hours from most capital cities and Qantas provides an excellent and timely service.

“The destination is unique in that many people have never visited Alice Springs, so they have little or no expectations prior to arriving, and I’m sure they depart with a new appreciation for Central Australia,” she adds.

Recent developments in Central Australia means the region now has even more to offer as a business event host destination.

Carbon footprint reduction

Lasseters Hotel and the Alice Springs Convention Centre (ASPCC) are taking the lead in environmental sustainability. The installation of a new power optimiser, which incorporates unique carbon-saving technology, will result in a drastic reduction of power usage at both properties by approximately 760,000 kilowatt hours, with CO2 emissions to reduce by approximately 541,000 kg. This innovation will enhance the appeal of Alice Springs to event planners who value environmental sustainability.

Technology innovations coupled with CSR

The ASPCC has recently launched a new, user-friendly and device-responsive website which includes a downloadable image library, as well as information regarding ASPCC’s portfolio of offsite catering venues for conference functions.

Details are also available on the website regarding the ASPCC’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) partnership program with not-for-profit (NFP) community-based organisations such as the Bindi Centre, the Western Desert Dialysis Centre and children’s drumming group, Drum Atweme.

With the message “Give your delegates a gift to carry home in their hearts, not their luggage”, the program is ideal for conference planners who wish to leave a lasting legacy in their event destination.

New dining option

Lasseters Hotel in Alice Springs has recently opened Tali – a new 120-seat restaurant. Tali offers both inside and outdoor dining, as well as two private rooms that cater for ten and 20 guests respectively, or can be combined to create a larger venue for up to 32 guests. The restaurant overlooks a landscaped garden featuring shrubs, trees, grasses and flowers local to the area, with a miniature ‘Todd River’ running its entire length. The restaurant is part of an ongoing $35 million property-wide redevelopment project at Lasseters.

Cultural experiences at Uluru

Voyages Ayers Rock Resort in Uluru has expanded the range of Indigenous experiences it offers to conference groups. A two-hour round robin team-building program provides a “cultural energiser” of four different activities selected from a wider suite of activity options. These include dot painting, Indigenous dance workshops, a didgeridoo session, and spear or boomerang throwing lessons. A new CSR educational component is also now available which gives delegates a deeper understanding of the Indigenous training and development activities carried out at the resort via the National Indigenous Training Academy.

An award-winning destination

The Northern Territory (NT) featured strongly at the prestigious Qantas Australian Tourism Awards recently held in Sydney. A total of nine NT organisations collected awards across a wide range of categories, including leading NT business events supplier Lasseters Hotel, which was the national winner for Best Deluxe Accommodation. Uluru Meeting Place, the purpose-built conference centre located at Voyages Ayers Rock Resort won the national Business Tourism category. Voyages Ayers Rock Resort also took out silver in the Indigenous Tourism category, whilst its five-star hotel Sails in the Desert won bronze in Luxury Accommodation.

Scott Lovett, Director of Business Events for the NT Convention Bureau, says “It’s been a fantastic year for the NT and these award wins showcase the depth and quality of products and experiences on offer in the NT. We also have a number of new accommodation properties coming on line throughout the NT which will undoubtedly enhance our destination’s appeal to the NFP sector.”

Lovett also made mention of the NT’s recently-launched Ambassador program, which includes some of Australia’s most renowned business and community leaders, who are already providing invaluable assistance in attracting business events to the NT.

For further information on the Northern Territory as a host destination, visit www.ntconventions.com.au