MEA Awards Open 25th National Conference Sydney

The MEA Industry Awards that recognise excellence and best business practice in the Meetings & Events Industry, are now open. The awards encourage industry professionals to excel in the achievement of their business and personal goals, and reward those who achieve outstanding results. Winners enjoy considerable profile within the meetings industry and with the general buying public.

In all but Individual Awards, members self-nominate for an Award by addressing a range of criteria that are relevant to the particular category or categories they are entering.

Candidates for MEA Individual Awards are nominated by a third party such as an employer, client, supplier or colleague who is responsible for completing the written application.

All Award submissions must be submitted on official award submission templates. The submissions are then judged by a panel of industry and independent judges. Short-listed candidates are interviewed by telephone to determine the category winner. Applications close 18 January 2013.

(Source: Business Events News, 7th November 2012)

The Office Christmas Party — Traps for the Unwary

Ensuring appropriate standards of behaviour and safety at the work Christmas party will assist in avoiding legal claims, but will also ensure that the party is enjoyed by all who attend.

Christmas is a time of year when many people look forward to winding down at work and to parties, celebrations and holidays. Many employers reward their staff for their efforts during the year by throwing a Christmas party, either on the premises or at an outside venue. The Christmas party provides employees with an opportunity to relax and socialise together before the Christmas break.

Sexual harassment

For a number of employers every year, the Christmas party brings more than just a hangover. The New Year often sees an increase in the number of sexual harassment claims by employees resulting from inappropriate sexual conduct at the Christmas party by a co-worker or co-workers. Employees whose behaviour may be exemplary throughout the year may behave inappropriately at the Christmas party, usually because they have consumed too much alcohol.

An employer will be liable for unlawful sexual harassment engaged in by employees or agents at the Christmas party unless it can show that it took all reasonable steps to prevent the unlawful behaviour. In one case, a director of the employer made unwanted sexual advances towards a young probationary employee when they were alone together after the Christmas party. The employee lodged a sexual harassment claim against both the company and the director. The employee was awarded a total of $21,840 damages (see: Dobrovska v A R Jamison Pty Ltd & Anor (1996) EOC 92-794).

Unfair dismissal claims

Sexual harassment claims are not the only legal risks that can arise from inappropriate behaviour at the work Christmas party. If the employer decides to terminate an employee because of his or her inappropriate behaviour at the party, the employee may bring an unfair dismissal claim. In one case, the employee was alleged to have engaged in the following behaviours at the work Christmas party:

• slurred speech, stumbling around the venue, being loud and obnoxious
• flirtatious behaviour, such as sitting on one representative’s knee and laying back onto another employee with legs in the air
• revealing her undergarments
• disclosing a tattoo near her groin area.

The employer conducted an investigation into the allegation and dismissed the employee. The employee lodged an unfair dismissal claim in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) and was successful. The Commission found that the investigation was carried out in an unfair manner, and the company's procedures had not been adhered to. It was found that the behaviour towards the other employees was not conduct of a sexual nature. The employee denied knowingly revealing her underwear, and while she did show her tattoo to a female colleague, this was not done in the manner alleged.

The Commission found that there existed a significant problem in relation to the consumption of alcohol and associated behaviour at company functions, which was exacerbated by the ready provision of alcohol by the company. While the company had attempted to address this problem through its Discrimination Free Workplace Policy, the problem still remained, with the company having a culture of ‘working hard in the day and playing hard at night’.

The Commission found that the termination of the employee was harsh, unjust and unreasonable and awarded the applicant $28,745 compensation (see: Palmer v Nestle Confectionary, AIRC, U No 30525 of 1999, 7 March 2000).

Safety of employees

Ensuring the safety of employees at the Christmas party and on their journey home is also the responsibility of the employer (as long as the employee does not break the journey home). Employees who are injured at the Christmas party or on their journey home may lodge workers compensation claims or common law claims for personal injury.

Steps to avoid risks

Employers can take steps that will assist in preventing legal claims arising out of the work Christmas party. These include:

• Reminding employees of the standard of behaviour that is expected of them before the party, for example, by redistributing the Workplace Harassment Policy, or raising the matter at a staff meeting.
• Managers should circulate during the party to ensure that no inappropriate behaviour is taking place and model appropriate behaviour themselves.
• Where inappropriate behaviour is observed by a manager, immediate steps should be taken to stop the behaviour. This may necessitate sending the offending employee home, in a taxi if necessary. Disciplinary action may be warranted on the employee's return to work, depending on the circumstances. Any such disciplinary action should be taken in accordance with the employer's discipline and termination policies and procedures.
• If an employee becomes too intoxicated he or she should be sent home in a taxi or driven home by a work colleague.
• The employer should place limits on the supply of alcohol at the party. One way of doing this is to provide each employee with a voucher entitling them to a limited number of alcoholic drinks.
• The employer should provide soft drinks, light alcoholic drinks and preferably serve food at the party.
• The employer could have facilities at the party to enable employees to test their blood alcohol level.
• If the venue for the party is off-site, the employer should provide transport to the site and back to the workplace after the party.
• The employer could ask for volunteers for non-drinking drivers and arrange carpools for the purposes of transporting employees home.

Source: Australian Business Limited.

INTRODUCING BUSINESS TRAVEL AT AIME

Now in its 21st year, the Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) is recognised as a leading event in the Asia-Pacific region for event organisers and more recently, corporate travel managers.

Industry professionals and exhibitors from all over the world will meet in Melbourne for AIME 2013 and will experience two days of business connections, valuable networking and an extensive Education Program.

Showcasing destinations, airlines, venues and a wide range of products and services from all parts of Australia, the Asia-Pacific and internationally, AIME 2012 welcomed close to 800 exhibitors from 44 different countries and held close to 13,000 business appointments over the two days.

Benefits to exhibiting:

• Meet with over 550 qualified Hosted Buyers and over 3,300 industry visitors
• Over 13,000 pre-arranged meetings between exhibitors and Hosted Buyers take place over two days
• Join over 800 exhibitors from around the world
• Attend the high level ACTE conference co-located at AIME
• 42% of Hosted Buyers organise Business Travel

For more information click on http://www.aime.com.au/businesstravel

BESydney to Manage Bookings for Glebe Island Expo and SICEEP

Business Events Sydney (BESydney) will take on broader responsibility and manage booking enquiries for the Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct (SICEEP) and Glebe Island Expo until operators of the new facilities are appointed.

Glebe Island Expo is the interim facility that will house Sydney's major public exhibitions and trade shows during the development of the 20-hectare Darling Harbour site that will be home to SICEEP - a world-class meeting place for the future. 

Infrastructure NSW, which is delivering SICEEP for the NSW Government, will recommend the successful proponent in December 2012 and the operator for the interim facility is scheduled to be announced in March 2013.

Infrastructure NSW Project Director, Tim Parker commented, "BESydney's team has extensive knowledge of the events market and the expertise to oversee both the enquiry and booking process for both Glebe Island Expo and SICEEP. Our aim is to make the enquiry and booking processes as streamlined and user-friendly as possible. BESydney is already bidding on events for 2017 and beyond that will take place in the new facilities. The company is well placed to manage enquiries."

Lyn Lewis-Smith, CEO of BESydney comments, "The team is pleased to be taking on these new responsibilities. BESydney will be a one-stop shop for business events. Glebe Island Expo is part of the Sydney-wide interim solution that will enable Sydney to remain a vibrant hub for business events whilst SICEEP is constructed. The new facilities will deliver great opportunities for business events in the city, both now and in the future, and the team is looking forward to working closely with the industry to ensure their success."

"We already have a dedicated Event Delivery department that assists clients with sourcing venue options for their events. BESydney has been working closely over the past months to re-home the conferences and congresses it secured for Sydney that will be affected by the SICEEP development. This team will be expanded and will have dedicated staff to take on the responsibilities of the Glebe Island Expo and SICEEP." 

Exhibitions that will be affected by the SICEEP development will have first right of refusal for bookings for the interim facility. It is anticipated there will also be scope for additional events to be secured for Glebe Island Expo.
BESydney's Event Delivery team will manage the bookings and Robyn Johnson, General Manager Event Delivery, comments, "Our first priorities will be making sure that planned exhibitions have a home and ensuring that event organisers know Sydney will continue to deliver a world-class event experience during the development period."
Expressions of interest for bookings can be submitted online at www.glebeislandexpo.com. All enquiries should be emailed to bookings@besydney.com.au or call 1300 141 583.  

Glebe Island Expo was announced yesterday by Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Brad Hazzard and Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing, George Souris. Infrastructure NSW will soon issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to companies interested in designing, building, operating and then removing the interim facility. Detailed designs have yet to be developed, yet it is aimed Glebe Island Expo will provide:

• Pavilion-style exhibition space of 15,000 square metres in a high quality, air-conditioned, fully serviced interim facility
• An adjacent flat space of 10,000 square metres for exhibitors to temporarily expand the space for larger public exhibitions and trade shows
• A weather-proofed and climate controlled environment
• Flexible space that can create reception areas and meeting rooms
• Close proximity to the CBD and a unique location on Sydney Harbour
• Availability for the entire construction period
• Event-related food and beverage facilities, such as pop-up cafes and restaurants
• Full 'back of house' facilities, such as loading-dock, external storage and waste management facilities. 

For further information: 

Rebecca Mills, Marketing and Communications Manager
Business Events Sydney
rmills@besydney.com.au
Tel: +61 2 9332 5218
Mob: +61 420 960 108

Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre Wins International Award For Showcase Event

The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre’s creativity and innovation in event delivery has again been recognised internationally, with the venue winning a prestigious International Special Events Society (ISES) Esprit Award.

Announced in Dallas in the United States on the weekend (August 4), the Best Event Design and Decor award acknowledges the Centre’s achievement in staging a spectacular Unconventional Evening in November 2011. 

The Unconventional Evening demonstrated the Centre’s talents and creative flair to more than 80 identities from the arts, media, wine and food industries.  The event was inspired by a painting from the Centre’s Australian art collection, the fiery nine-metre landscape, Point to Point, by renowned artist Tim Storrier. 

With Storrier in attendance as guest of honour, the Centre’s Executive Chef Uwe Habermehl added fire to ice to deliver a succession of theatrical dishes highlighting the finest local produce. 

Meanwhile, the Centre’s production team transformed the cityview Bayside Terrace into a shimmering interpretation of the evening’s theme, with hundreds of tiered candles and a massive projection of another Storrier painting, Landscape which spectacularly morphed into Point to Point.

Centre Chief Executive Ton van Amerongen said the venue was thrilled to win such a prestigious international accolade.

“The Centre is about to celebrate 25 years of delivering great events so it is wonderful to win an award of this calibre as we approach a landmark anniversary in 2013,” Mr van Amerongen.

“This award is not just about the Centre’s skill in delivering a seamless event, it’s also about the creativity and passion which our teams have demonstrated since our doors first opened. I congratulate them all for their world-class performance.”

Sydney's Event Showcase - Promises A Sensory Special Event

With less than three weeks until opening, the team behind Sydney's Event Showcase 2012 released numerous new show features today, as they ramp up their strategy to engage event buyers to the show floor.

Event Director Rowan Marchingo has tapped into his event production expertise to design and deliver an exhibition experience that will stimulate the five senses.  

"Sydney's Event Showcase 2012 will become what it promotes, a special event that delivers serious business returns for all involved. 

"We've ramped up the on-the-show floor experiences this year to showcase the best ideas and inspiration for those who manage, buy and deliver events of all shapes and sizes.

"This year's Showcase will be an exhibition like no other," said Mr Marchingo. 
Visitor's taste buds will take delight in the brand new feature - Interactive Kitchen - where team building gurus Cheeky Food Group, Taste Food Tours and many others will lead a communal cooking class, whilst the best caterers in town will share samples of their food creations via the roving Bite Tastings. 

Visitors will be encouraged to touch and feel all the new products at the 180 exhibitor stands, and get up close and personal with industry influencers at the Party After Dark - the networking night of nights, this year to be held at Cargo Bar. For the first time ever, visitors will be able to purchase tickets to attend the event industry networking event of the year. 

The Entertainment Showcase has completely transformed the corporate entertainment on show at the exhibition. With famous Australian headliners on the bill, visitors will hear and see the ultimate in event entertainment. Additional entertainers will be also roving the isles adding an element of surprise to the Showcase. 

An interactive and informative smart phone app will be available for exhibitors and visitors to the show. Provided by ShowGizmo, it will include the full details of all the exhibitors on board, and calendarise all events occurring at the show. 

Visitors will hear from international keynote speakers Andrea Michaels and Corbin Ball at the all new, exciting program: Australia's Event Master Class Seminars, which will bring a whole host of domestic and international industry leaders together for the first time. 

Central - the heartbeat of the Showcase is still 'the place to be'. Keynote speakers from Australia's Event Master Class Seminars will congregate here to talk one-on-one with those wanting more insights into their knowledge and skills. 

A full schedule of events is available at the website

Registration is free; however it is strongly advised to register online before the Expo to avoid the queues at the door.

Catch the latest news and details at the events social media sites Facebook & Twitter

BESydney expands the 2012 ABEE Hosted Buyer Program

Australia’s leading convention bureau, Business Events Sydney (BESydney), in conjunction with the Australian Business Event Expo (ABEE) and airline partner Qantas, has expanded the ABEE Hosted Buyer Program to include both Hosted and Semi-hosted Buyer Programs that will run from 14–16 August 2012.

Last year’s Hosted Buyer Program catered for a qualified number of fully hosted buyers. This year, expanding the program to two streams will introduce more local buyers to the show floor and enhance the quality and quantity of appointments for exhibitors.

“The expansion of the ABEE Hosted Buyer Program is a strategic decision to ensure ABEE’s show floor continues to be a dynamic platform for supplier and client connection, networking and business,” comments Lyn Lewis-Smith, CEO of BESydney.

“The two distinct programs ensure that both the hosted and semi-hosted buyer experience is productive, as well as educational, and really delivers on the modern day buyer’s needs. We’ve acted on feedback provided by previous participants and have made supplier appointments, key site inspections and networking the priorities in both programs.”

Jodie Richmond, CEO of Exhibition and Trade Fairs (the owner of ABEE) adds, “It is fantastic to work alongside Business Events Sydney and airline partner Qantas to grow the already successful ABEE Hosted Buyer Program. Our combined understanding of the business event market, paired with a savvy, concise format, will see the Program deliver enhanced results to both our Buyers and our Exhibitors this year.

Hosted buyers will receive complimentary Qantas return travel to Sydney and 2 nights' accommodation in a leading Sydney hotel. This program includes participation in the educational program that is punctuated with fantastic speaking talent, scheduled appointments, the Destination Site Inspection Tour, gala events and all ground logistics.

Semi-hosted buyers will have the opportunity to schedule appointments with suppliers, listen to selected speakers on the educational program and enjoy the ABEE Hosted Buyer Dinner. They will also have the option of participating in a full-day Destination Site Inspection Tour.

The Australian Business Events Expo runs from 15–16 August 2012 at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and is the ultimate marketplace for business events in Australia.