AusLeisure

The Events Centre Caloundra put on a spectacular show on Wednesday evening for the Australian Event Awards, a night of celebration for the Australian events industry

Some 330 event specialists from around Australia attended the function, which included top class entertainment, high quality local Sunshine Coast cuisine and a surprise element that reflected this year’s Australian Event Awards theme of the ‘art of the unexpected’.

Awards night attendees got a major surprise when a ‘hidden’ stage was revealed to host a series of glamorous acts while another unexpected treat was a closing performance by The Antipodean Rock Collective featuring Australia’s rock band pedigree, with members of Jet, Powderfinger, You Am I, and Spiderbait combining to bring the house down with a memorable set.

Among the industry professionals recognised in the Awards was the Ignatius Jones, who won the life time achievement award.

A local winner, TAFE Queensland’s East Coast Division, took out the award for ’Best Education/Training Program’ for their Diploma of Event Management.

Visit Sunshine Coast Chief Executive Simon Latchford, who presented awards on the night for Best Tourism Event and Best Education or Training Program, said the Awards night at The Events Centre showcased the region’s expertise and innovation in events management.

Latchford stated “delegates I spoke to said this was one of the best Awards events and symposiums they had attended.

“It is a huge credit to the team at The Events Centre and all the local suppliers and operators who contributed to making this a memorable event.

“This is undoubtedly one of the toughest audiences to impress because they’ve seen just about everything there is to see in the events space, but you can be certain that they will leave the Sunshine Coast knowing that we can deliver world-class events.

“The support by Sunshine Coast Council to target major events has already paid dividends in recent months, with the region hosting the Australian Society of Travel Writers, the Australian Cruise Conference and now the Australian Event Awards & Symposium, three of the most prestigious events in the travel and tourism calendar.

“Our Business Events team will be working with Sunshine Coast Council’s events team to pursue other major events and conferences, as they deliver substantial benefits in the short and longer terms to the Sunshine Coast, its businesses and its residents.

“The Events Centre delivered an outstanding event, but the best is yet to come, thanks to Sunshine Coast Council and the Federal Government combining to fund a $6 million upgrade of The Events Centre. The Sunshine Coast has so many natural attractions, but this investment will ensure that we can continue to excel in the highly competitive venue space as well as enhance Caloundra’s reputation as being one of the region’s premier cultural and performance precincts.”

Images: Arrivals at The Events Centre Caloundra (top) and performers Maske at the Awards.

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Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.