1. Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is moving into Australia, signing a management contract for a new luxury hotel and branded residences to be developed in Melbourne.

2. Adelaide will be centre stage in Apr 2018 when the city plays host to the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE).

3. The Pan Pacific hotel brand will return to Australia’s east coast next month when it takes over the Hilton Melbourne South Wharf adjoining the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.

4. The InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has expanded its portfolio in NSW with the addition of two high-profile properties outside Sydney. The former Sebel Resort & Spa Hawkesbury Valley, one of the most popular conference properties at the foot of the Blue Mountains, will now be operated as the Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley.

5. Captain Cook Cruises will commence a ferry service to the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) from Circular Quay after being awarded a NSW Govt contract.

6. International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) has been named Australia’s best conference venue at the recent Qantas Business Travel Awards.

7. Crowne Plaza has opened its newest property in Christchurch, easing the city’s hotel shortage in the wake of its devastating 2011 earthquake.

8. AccorHotels has unveiled an updated conference offering at Pullman Magenta Shores Resort on the NSW Central Coast. The resort’s conference facilities have been fully renovated with new features and a fresh look.

9. Adelaide is gearing up for a busy couple of months with over 18,000 delegates expected to come to the city for an array of different events. The Adelaide Convention Bureau says more than 86,000 additional hotel bed nights will be recorded as the city hosts 50 conferences over the next four months.

10. Brisbane’s Airtrain is now offering a premium door-to-door service ideal for business events delegates on the Gold Coast.