2016-08-09 S&O Agenda Item 8, Attachment 1 - CCIQ Noosa Convention and Cultural Centre Initiative Pre-feasibility Study

    CCIQ Noosa #3 Noosa Convention & Cultural Centre Initiative
    Pre-feasibility Study                                                                                                       April 2016


         Models                    management lease like Ogden
                                    i.   A preference towards either choice is likely to be an outcome of the
                                         financial mix
                                   ii.   A staged management framework might also be considered with
                                         Council initially managing the facility for five years then transition to an
                                         independent board
                             b.    Similarly, the Team was advised that it was critically important to appoint the
                                   Venue Management at the start of the Design & Construct phase35 along with
                                   the Senior Sales Executive 2 years in advance of facility completion.




                             a.    The Team was advised that a new entity, Events Noosa, should be created, to
 Events Noosa                      build and maintain a local, national and international36 MICE prospect
 and Speakers                      pipeline, to co-ordinate bids, and to maintain customer relationships both
                                   pre- and post- event execution with the Centre37
       Bureau                b.    This new entity could either be independent38, or sit within Tourism Noosa39.
                             c.    In either case, a key competitive role of Events Noosa would be to partner
                                   with the new Centre to deliver comprehensive MICE training programs to
                                   businesses who have not dealt with the special needs of business tourism
                             d.    An opportunity to create a unique Speakers Bureau appears likely through a
                                   Noosa Biosphere partnership with Events Noosa40. Offering a ‘bank’ of local
                                   and imported talent sympathetic to biosphere values and expert in key
                                   trends (refreshed annually) as fill-in speakers on aspects of our UNESCO
                                   Biosphere classification would be especially attractive to international events.
                             e.    As part of an enhanced Brand Noosa it is forecast that events could be
                                   developed and comprise a third pillar industry for Noosa, the others being
                                   the environment and general tourism.




                             a.    Announcement of a serious intention to create this facility offers property
Accommodation                      management rights holders and owners advance notice to consider inventory
Observations                       upgrade to meet new standards for inclusion in high-yield Business Tourism
                             b.    The study Team recognises that, in the short term at least, higher-paying
                                   professional conference delegates may out-compete FIT tourists for the
                                   stock41 of available 4-5 star accommodation especially for bookings for
                                   activities conducted over weekends, or during traditional seasonal periods of


    35
       APACA recommendation with examples where not to do so have caused serious logistical and management problems.
    36
       Through membership of MIAA – Meetings and Events Australia MEA, AACVB – Australian Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaux
    and IACVB – International Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaux
    37
       The Centre would operate marketing for MICE business as part of a consortium initially being the Centre, Tourism Noosa and Events
    Noosa.
    38
       As Sunshine Coast Events is independent of Sunshine Coast Destination
    39
       Requiring a reorganisation of Tourism Noosa structure and membership similar to those undertake by bureaux in Brisbane and Sydney
    some 20 years ago
    40
       Expandable to a Biosphere Tour Guide business with up to 12 new jobs created
    41
       Tourism Noosa is currently researching number of available local rooms (was 6,500 six years ago, before Peppers Noosa built); and their
    classification




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