What a busy time we have all had of late and like most, I can’t believe we are into August already!

We have been so excited in meeting so many new members right across Australia and of course catching up with so many of our existing members and friends!

Our red dot system continues to make it that much easier for new members to attend our networking events for the first time. A red dot on your name tag indicated for those members who have attended our events in the past that you are a first timer and that you need to be looked after and always made feel welcome at all times. It is a great initiative that allows any new member not to feel intimidated if they are coming to an event on their own and may not know anyone in the room.

Let’s race around the country and see what has been happening as well as plans for the next few months!

Melbourne

Back on the 12 May we had a brilliant night compliments of The Ultimate Team – Ultimate Conference & Events/The Venue Shop, learning the amazing service that they can offer the EAN members through not only finding the ideal venue, hotel or resort but all your event needs including suppliers, entertainment etc. The night was so much fun as we all got to make the most magical cocktails at the Vibe Hotel. Lisa, Gil, Rebecca and Sara did a fantastic job organising a host of amazing supplier companies in toe and a goodie bag full of surprises.

Business Events Victoria hosted their annual amazing showcase in May of venues and supplies from right across the Victorian region and we were thrilled to co-host this event and bring so many of the EAN Members to the night. It was fantastic to be able to speak directly with local suppliers and meet contacts from various venues from regional Victoria which was a huge benefit to those CBD based members. Our thanks to Chris and the team at BE Vic, it was a fabulous night!

Our next event in Melbourne was our biggest event to date held in Melbourne hosted by no other than Etihad Stadium! And didn’t they do it in style – guests were treated firstly to canapes and beverages on the turf with some great entertainment and then we were all off to see some of the diverse event spaces they have on offer, including areas that most people never get to see! We also now have a lot more knowledge about the corporate ticketing packages available as well. The night didn’t end there – we then were lucky enough to have two AFL players on site, Marc Murphy the Captain of Carlton and Jack Watts from Melbourne who were also there to help draw the big prizes of the night, donated from Etihad Stadium being 2 Hospitality Packages to Coldplay for two (Valued at $1,000 each)! Congratulations to all the winners and our huge thanks to Steve, Jonathan, Nadia and the entire team at Etihad Stadium for the most amazing Networking Event ever!!

There is lots more in store on our events calendar for Melbourne Members and final dates are being finalised for these events. However, we can tell you that there is a luncheon late August/early September at Holiday Inn Airport and a rather big 10 Year Celebration for EAN being organised for September. We are partnering with TFE Hotels for an event on 20 October and then there is a lunch organised with Holiday Inn Melbourne sometime in October. There is still a QBT event that will be hosted prior to the end of year and of course we have our Networking Event on 29 November at the Sofitel Melbourne as part of our EAN Conference & Exhibition and look forward to seeing many of you there!

Canberra

We have had the most amazing time recently in Canberra with many local EAs and some that even travelled interstate for the EAN Congress & Exhibition. It was a record number of attendees in the ACT and we all had an amazing two days at The QT Canberra. The Conference was a huge success and the exhibition was a massive added bonus – thank you to all those involved and it was fabulous catching up with all the Canberra EAs and I look forward to seeing you all again very soon at the next networking event. Congratulations also to the lucky winner of two International Flights compliments of QBT Travel.

We are looking at also scheduling in a 10 Year Celebration in Canberra and more information will be forwarded as soon as these details are finalised.

Perth

We are thrilled to be coming to Perth to celebrate our 10 Year Anniversary with the Perth EAN Members on 11 August. The event will be hosted by TFE Hotels and they have an amazing night in store. If you haven’t already registered, come along for the celebrations and to meet some of your EA colleagues for a fabulous evening.

We also have scheduled in the calendar an event at Crowne Plaza Perth on 9 November, so put this date in your diaries and an invite and more details will be forwarded soon.

Sydney

Order-In hosted EAN Members at the Pavilion in Darling Harbour back in April and we all received a first-hand experience of some of the high quality caterers and other services they have on board through their fantastic website. Members were surprised to learn that they are the one stop website that has literally hundreds of caterers and services in the one spot with the variety that you are looking for with your corporate catering. It was a fantastic evening enjoyed by all. Thank you to Jonathan, Paulette and the crew from Order-In and it you haven’t seen their website, have a look – www.orderin.com.au

In May Members enjoyed an early Christmas to witness what the fabulous Trippas White Group and their venues could offer for members organising their own Christmas functions. Their venues all excelled to showcase their many food and beverage options and it was fantastic for so many of them to meet face to face contacts from each location. The event was held at The Pavilion on the Domain and thanks to Renay and the wonderful team from Trippas, we had a brilliant evening!

One of EANs newest Partnership groups being 5 regional based Accor Properties, hosted our June event. These include The Sebeal Kirkton Park Hunter Valley, The Sebel Hawkesbury Resort & Spa, Mercure Kooindah Waters Central Coast, Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains and Pullman Magenta Shores Resort. The event was held at The Ternary restaurant at The Novotel Darling Harbour and it was a spectacular night with a backdrop of fireworks from the beginning of VIVID. Members were able to meet representatives from each of the properties and learn more about each of their amazing facilities. Our thanks to all 5 properties and your amazing prize giveaways as well!

The next Sydney event was probably the best view in the city to watch the last Friday evening of VIVID and the evening was hosted by our National Partner QBT. Cruise Bar were also our venue sponsor and the event was held in Junk Lounge, and we thank them both for their most generous hospitality and one that all the EAs who were present will remember for a long time to come. It was QBT’s first event with the network and it was so exciting to learn more about the services they offer and how they can assist you and your companies travel requirements. Thank you to Alex, Abbie, Laura, Katrina, Joe and Gina and the team at QBT. Our thanks also to Alan, Sarah and Charlotte and your crew, as it is always a magical night when Cruise Bar are involved!

Our thanks to The Sebel Kirkton Park Hunter Valley who organised a famil in July for a small group of EAN Members to witness the unveiling of their multi-million dollar refurbishment. And oh, how stunning it is… Our thanks for the true hospitality given to all in attendance and for the opportunity to join you on that very special night! Thanks to Katrina and the team at Sebel.

July saw us at the wonderful North Sydney Harbourview Hotel for a Night Market Networking Event. Let’s just say food, food, food – wow!! Chef definitely outdid himself with a vast array of food stations even an authentic Sake station! The market stretched from a fantastic indoor venue and snaked through a scrumptious array of desserts to even more stations outside under the fairy lit trees of the HarbourView’s courtyard. Our thanks to Andrew, Katie and your team for showcasing another part of your hotel that many of the EAs didn’t know existed and your amazing food and beverages not to mention your hospitality throughout the evening.

Sydney is a hive of activity at the moment with BE Vic scheduled to host an event on 18 August. The InterContinental Sydney is scheduling a small intimate dinner for EAN members on 25 August and the invite will be out soon. Crowne Plaza Coogee would like to invite members for a luncheon in September and I am currently working with both Meriton Apartments and Fink Group who are looking to host an event with us prior to the end of the year. I have another fabulous partner that we can’t mention as yet who wants to host an October event and you will love this venue! Holiday Inn Old Sydney is looking at hosting a famil of their property in October which will well and truly take us to Christmas, so get your networking boots ready!

Brisbane

Trippas White Group celebrated a night to remember at their classy venue WATT Restaurant and Bar. The wonderful Venue Manager David and the Functions & Event Manager, Leisa were so hospitable and all guests had the most amazing food from Chef as well as a wonderful array of beverage. We were shown the many event spaces the venue has to offer, all with a spectacular view! Also a big thank you to Renay from Trippas who was also on site and the whole WATT team for the evening.

Next month will see us in Brisbane at the EAN Conference & Exhibition and we are looking forward to our Networking Event on the 13 September. So if you can’t make it to the conference or the exhibition during the day then definitely register to attend the evening event. Details will be forwarded soon! We are scheduling events with both Fink Group (Otto Brisbane) and Meriton Apartments who will both be hosting events prior to Christmas so keep your eyes open for the invitations. We also have a number of famils being organised to the Gold Coast as well!

As you can see it has been a busy few months and we are looking forward to continuing to meet many of the EAN members over the coming months.