As my first duty as the new Chair of MEA SA I sincerely thank outgoing chair Philip Wells for his superb contribution to MEA and the industry. Philip is staying on the MEA SA committee for another year and I’m sure he will continue to make valuable contributions to the branch.  

Thank you also to the many other volunteer members of the various MEA committees, your work and enthusiasm benefit MEA, the industry and yourselves. If you are interested in joining a committee we would b e very interested in hearing from you.

I also wanted to say something inspiring and upbeat to help engender a feeling of enthusiasm for the meetings and events industry and MEA in particular.  I thought long and hard in order to get it right but I kept getting back to the same thought. The meetings industry is actually a very difficult one in which to work, however, it is also a very rewarding industry.

They say in show business “it’ll be alright on the night”. This is true because you make it alright on the night. When reflecting on an event that you made possible or contributed to in a big way, you can feel justifiably proud of what you created – a memorable experience for those involved.

I encourage you to participate in as many functions and training events that MEA provide as you can. I and the other SA committee members working with MEA will be striving to keep MEA relevant and delivering training and services that enhance your skills and add value to you and your organisation.

Enjoy the festive season and as you reflect on 2010 you should feel proud of your achievements – and then fire up for an even bigger and better 2011!

Darren Mickan AFMEA
Branch Chair MEA SA

SA Christmas Party at Botanic Gardens Restaurant

The Botanic Gardens Restaurant (catered by Blanco) created the perfect background for our Christmas wind-up function for the year.  The restaurant quickly filled with a happy buzz of festivity.  During the speeches Philip Wells (SA Branch Chair) honoured Rob Bulfield on his retirement from both the SA branch committee and from SAPRO early next year and wished him all the best in the coming years on the golf course!  Rob has been a great contributor to the industry and will be missed by many.  A sad farewell was also bid to Bianca Scarlett who is moving Scarlett Events to Darwin.  She has been a valuable part of both the SA Branch and the SA Networking Sub-Committee which she has chaired throughout the last year.  The high standard of food produced by Blanco Catering was served by a great team of staff members and we thank them for their support for the event.  The night ended on a sweet note with a frenzy at the self-serve take-home lollies from the sponsored Lolly Bar.   Thanks to our multitude of sponsors for their support both for this function and throughout the year.  We are very grateful to both our members and sponsors for their ongoing support of the MEA SA Branch. 

Hosting an event will provide you with an excellent opportunity to demonstrate support for the continued growth of the meetings and events industry, to promote your venue and service and demonstrate its versatility and capabilities.

If you are interested in hosting an event for MEA members in SA please contact Kate Duldig at sa@mea.org.au.

After a record number of entries in 2009, MEA is delighted to announce the opening of the 2010 Meetings and Events Industry Awards.

The Awards Program provides an opportunity for member companies and individuals to showcase their achievements during 2009/2010 and be rewarded for their results.

Becoming a finalist or winner will recognise outstanding performance across 30 different categories at state and national level allowing members to benchmark their performance against other professionals and to review and improve their business.

Finalists and winners will enjoy significant marketing benefits and strengthened profile with the meetings and events industry, suppliers and the buying public.
To view the full range of categories and further information on the 2010 MEA Awards Program, visit www.meetingsevents.com.au/awards

Applications close Friday 21 January 2011. Winners are announced at the MEA National Awards Night on April 19, 2011 during the MEA National Conference.

If you have any questions about the 2010 MEA Awards Program, please contact the MEA National Office on 02 9929 5400.

Y MEA at Great Southern Rail

Another successful Y MEA event was hosted by Great Southern Railway on the 27 October  aboard luxurious carriages from the great Australian Train Journeys fleet.

Guests were greeted by Jos Engelaar and Renee Cornelissen from Great Southern Railway’s. Guests then preceded to the Outback Explorer lounge
for a fantastic networking opportunity, accompanied with sumptuous five
star canapés.

A life learning curve was presented by Vivienne McCabe, Associate Professor (Hospitality Management) and Academic Director for the Le Cordon Blue program at the University of South Australia. Vivienne shared with the group, her theory of time management using the ‘McCabe Menagerie.’ This easy to follow theory encouraged everyone to face their challenges by squashing the ants in life and setting aside time to go elephant hunting every day!

Ending the night with a highly entertaining and knowledgeable tour of all the different carriages, was a highlight for all guests. It seemed evident that holding a business meeting on the way to an interstate destination could certainly be an effective use of time and a unique experience for all delegates involved.

25 February 2011 - ClubMEA at Adelaide Convention Centre - Cellar Door Wine and Tourism Festival

Hat trick for Adelaide Convention Centre

The Adelaide Convention Centre was a third-time winner of the Meetings and Business Tourism category at the South Australian Tourism Awards, announced recently. This third consecutive win also means the Adelaide Convention Centre has been inducted into the prestigious South Australian Tourism Hall of Fame. The venue will now contend for the national title for the third time at the Qantas National Tourism Awards. The Adelaide Convention Centre is consistently recognised for excellence, ranking among the world’s top convention centres. It has been the winner of AIPC International Innovation Award for Excellence in Convention Centre Management, as well as Meetings & Events Australia 2009 Awards for Venue without Accommodation and Corporate Social Responsibility.