SUNNY COAST AIMS BIG

THE Sunshine Coast is expecting its biggest-ever year for events in 2019, having won a string of national conferences and embarked on a major expansion of its convention and function facilities, according to Business Events Sunshine Coast Manager Maureen Brennan.

Some of the developments include the Events Centre Caloundra, which is currently undergoing a $6m upgrade and is set to be completed by Apr.

The venue has already locked in a number of new conferences for the year, including the PAC Australia National Performing Arts Exchange and Conference, which will coincide with the region’s multi-arts Horizon Festival, and the National Clean Technologies Conference and Exhibition in late May. Novotel Twin Waters Resort

(pictured) is also upgrading its conference and events facilities with a new $8 million venue that will offer four different meeting and event spaces across 1,600m2 and cater for up 2,000 theatre style, or 1,000 banquet.

The venue is expected to open in Apr, and will be complemented by a $10 million upgrade of the hotel.

Already secured for Novotel’s new venue is the Queensland Tourism Awards event on 08 Nov which is expected to attract 1,000 attendees to the region to celebrate the state’s tourism “best of the best”.

“The whole of the Sunshine Coast will be used as a venue for The Curated Plate food festival in Aug,” said Brennan.

Restaurants, bars, cooking schools, beaches and secluded Hinterland venues will all come alive as local, interstate and international chefs plate the region’s produce.