Event brief
The supplier of bathroom and plumbing products, Plumbing Plus, wanted to hold its annual conference and had invited Daydream Island Resort & Spa – located in the Whitsundays island cluster in Queensland, Australia – to host it. The four-day event had 170 delegates and featured conference sessions, networking parties and dining functions which utilised multiple locations on the island.

Challenges
The resort was tasked to make the event memorable for delegates, hence organisers had to brainstorm for entertainment and activities that were one-of-a-kind.

There was also a lot of logistical planning and coordination required in order to ensure the programme ran smoothly, as meetings and activities were organised in various locations across the 1km-long Daydream Island.

The organisers also had to ensure that there were sufficient support vessels to transport all 170 delegates, and plan for them to arrive in a timely fashion so as not to disrupt the flow of activities.

Solutions
Delegates were invited to explore the resort’s stunning reef in its man-made lagoon – home to some of The Great Barrier Reef’s marine life – and the view left them with a memorable impression of the area’s natural wonders.

The resort also worked with local tourism operator Cruise Whitsundays to take all delegates, in separate batches, to the iconic Whitehaven Beach. The scenic cruise to the magnificent beach included a friendly guide who provided an informative commentary on the history of the area.

Meanwhile, the island’s variety of indoor and outdoor venues provided the flexibility required for both business meetings and leisure activities.

Jane Hermann, director of sales and marketing with Daydream Island Resort and Spa, said the compact size of Daydream Island had worked to the event’s advantage, as all locations used in the programme were within easy reach of the resort’s accommodation and conference venues.

“Hence, there was minimal disruption to the schedule,” said Hermann.

For the event to end in a spectacular style, the island called upon its specialist suppliers and on-island team. High profile performers such as Samantha Jade, Daryl Braithwaite and comedian Mikey Robins were brought in to entertain the crowd, while a pyrotechnics expert was on hand to light up the night sky with a dazzling fireworks finale.

Key takeaways
Hermann noted that “good pre-event planning and site inspections with the organiser” allowed logistical issues to be resolved before the event.

Event: Plumbing Plus Conference
Organiser: Conference In Style
Venue: Daydream Island Resort & Spa
Date: October 23-26, 2014
Number of participants: 170