The conference commenced with nearly 200 delegates for each of the two days and required four breakout rooms for workshops. This was the second of four conferences planned with the highlight being a presentation by the inspirational Robyn Moore.

The SMC Conference & Function Centre being in the heart of the Sydney centre on the corner of Goulburn & Castlreigh Streets, with parking opposite, in between Central and Town Hall train stations is easily accessible for all delegates including those arriving through the airport. Accommodation was provided at the nearby Mercure Sydney Hotel next to Central Station. Libby Madden-Schrafft, Managing Director

The MHS recently hosted over 150 delegates (pre-school assistants) for 2 days at the centrally located CBD venue. They were the most appreciative conference delegates one could wish to meet, many at their first conference and some their first trip to Sydney! A number had never seen the ocean!

The MHS conference team just excelled providing wonderful service and support to the organisers/delegates alike. The food was very good and along with the service received a “high foot” from organisers as well as a high five.

From our perspective the MHS provided their usual high level of service and it was a pleasure working with them. Libby Madden-Schrafft, Managing Director.

The pre-conference training was attended by more than 75 persons who actively participated in “Inspirit Innovation Circles” wonderfully facilitated by Budhita Kismadi who created Vibrant Facilitation…an inspiring session. The training was followed by a Welcome Reception for more than 100 delegates.

The conference over the next two days consisted of both plenary sessions and 16 concurrent workshops featuring leading advocates in their field for over 200 delegates. An innovative World Café was facilitated by Ted Smeaton provided an innovative opportunity for delegates to communicate.

The banquet staff were quite magnificent and significantly contributed to the success of the event. Nothing was too much trouble and they certainly delivered as did the Fairchild staff responsible for the AV. Likewise the lunches were very well catered for a variety of tastes and needs. The Official Reception on the first conference evening enabled the delegates to mingle, eat, drink and chat for over an hour, and subsequently continued in nearby Chinatown.

The venue is centrally located in the CBD, with parking immediately adjacent and of course Central Station is five minutes walk away. The accommodation was of a very high standard and was certainly value for $ and as a consequence nearly 300 room nights were booked. Mike Schrafft, Director.

VMS successfully hosted a breakfast this morning at the Mercure Hotel Sydney. Recently DEC ran a very different conference “1:1 Learning Unconference” and this morning we had Ben Jones, the facilitator of this conference speak about what they set out to achieve, the challenges and the outcomes.

It was a fascinating presentation about breaking the traditional conference model which is presenting from top down to learning from the bottom up. It focussed on enabling people to share ideas, participate in discussion and to learn from each other rather than tradational presentation. The key appears to be in the preconference preparation and communication through establishing a series of communication platforms. Another is the ability to get past traditional thinking and establish how participants can best learn. Its breaking down those elements and treating them in an unconventional way incorporating the use of mobile technology and media platforms.

I would suggest it was the most important breakfast seminar we have held. Another is planned for February where we intend to expand upon the use of mobile technology within the conference framework. Stay tuned. Mike Schrafft - Director

Libby & I spent four days (Fri – Mon) last week poking around Adelaide & surrounding districts, courtesy of a prize won at a Business Chicks event (from Qantas & Hilton). It’s always interesting to experience their view of heavy traffic! The service at the Hilton was top class but unfortunately the breakfasts weren’t. However, we found a great fish restaurant in nearby Gouger Street and also enjoyed wonderful food at the seemingly chaotic but friendly LaTrattoria Restaurant on nearby King William Street (opposite The Kings Hotel). Visited the Rundle Mall, Adelaide Central Market and of course the RM Williams shop at Salisbury Plains.

We ventured into the Adelaide Hills to the historic village of Harndorf which transports you back to centuries gone by. A wonderful experience. Next call was the Berenberg jam factory, straight up the hill from Harndorf. A bit of a flash back for me in another life supplying the first batch of intricate labels that go their varied shape & size jars.

Onto the famous McLaren Vale wine country starting with a coffee and then a little wine tasting at the Hugo Winery, a wonderful NV Cuvee! The area is not well sign posted however we did find the Chapel Hill winery (a very nice range of shiraz) with the “Retreat” for exclusive conferencing (small groups) located on the same property, looking down the valley over the vineyards. We ventured the coast road back to Adelaide….not the same as the “Shire” beaches.

Our trip to the Barossa was just over the hour via the Main North Road through Gawler (a wonderful lady at the Info Centre pointed us in the right direct) and onto the Lyndoch Lavendar Farm for a bit of history and tuition on the product. Unfortunately I demolished a chair while sitting in the sun waiting for a coffee but I did have the good fortune to be served by a fellow “rugger player” and engage in RWC talk (go the Wallabies). Checked into the comfortable Novotel Barossa Valley Resort, which is right in the heart of the wine country and adjoining the Tanunda Pines Golf Course. Then onto the Grant Burge winery which has an amazing wine centre, outdoor gazebo and spectacular gardens. We quite liked the Riesling!

A visit to the Barossa would be incomplete without attending the famous Maggie Beer Farm Shop which we made in time for the (2pm daily) cooking demonstration….people everywhere! Also had a wander around the lake taking in the purpose built conference facility which the Novotel use for offsite excursions and dinners. Checked out the Chateau Tanundra, great building and gardens but now a backpack facility…disappointing really. So up Mengler Hill Lookout to see the breadth and beauty of the Barossa Valley unfold in front of us. It really is a compact area with a radius of about 18kms. A fantastic meal at the Novotel following a day of exploration and discovery.

Our final day started with a tour of the Novotel with DOS Troy Dowd….. showing us the conference facilities incorporating up to 10 conference rooms of various sizes and configurations; from the main ballroom seating 140 cabaret (250 theatre) to the intimate boardroom for 15. Great function space adjacent to the conference rooms! The property has plenty of space for activities and has a wonderful array of options available to make this a very unique conference experience.

No trip to the Barossa would be complete without visiting the Henschke Winery of “Hill of Grace” & “ Mount Edelstone” fame! It’s a magnificent ½ hour scenic drive into the Eden Valley and of course the wines live up to their reputation but the real find was a wonderful 2010 Muscat of Tappa Pass desert wine (to die for). Back to Angaston to find the Cheese Factory. We didn’t really need it but couldn’t help ourselves to some wonderful cheeses to bring home. Finally to the Chateau Barossa (winery, antiques & function centre). A wonderful old building just out of Lyndoch.

Back to dear old Sydney via Qantas and the end of a four day winter break. Would love to spend more time in the Barossa and the nearby Clare Valley which we didn’t have time to visit. See or Facebook for photos & videos. Mike Schrafft, Director.

Built around the restored Treasury Building of 1851, the hotel’s 509 contemporary designed guest rooms each with a picture frame view, include a collection of 28 suites. Ideally located at the “water” end of the CBD, a stone’s throw from both the Sydney Opera House and Botanical Gardens makes this a very unique conference venue. On level 31 is a pool and gymnasium with panoramic views of the harbour, but more importantly this is where the very special Club InterContinental is located for members to relax. Wow!

The venue contains 13 meeting rooms with high ceilings, natural light with the main ballroom seating 400 theatre style and 175 cabaret. There is an expert onsite AV team servicing the only Sydney hotel that boasts two video conferencing and TV broadcast studios offering permanent connectivity to global networks along with significant web conferencing options through high speed wireless internet connection.

We had a beautiful lunch in “Café Opera” with our hosts Colette and Shalom, the food was fantastic!!! It was simply a sample of the culinary know-how available to create authentic, unpretentious lunches, coffee breaks and dinners for conference delegates.
The InterCon is a special conference venue with unique charm but supported by the latest in technology for that very special meeting. Libby Madden-Schrafft, Managing Director

Earlier in the week we had the opportunity to visit this wonderful property in the Blue Mountains. The accommodation refurbishment is just about complete and the alterations to Embers Bar and Lobby area (Photos on Facebook) will be complete by end of September, restoring this once pride of the mountains to its rightful place.

The new owner is working through a back log of priorities commencing with those above followed by Kids Club, a number of suites with an enclosed yard, internet accessibility and overall revitalisation of this property. We had forgotten the majestic views of the mountains from a number of the conference rooms and of course from the golf course.

Please call me if you need to visit or enquire about the venue. It is our intention to conduct a client visit to the venue after the refurbishments are complete in September but we will advertise this widely in due course. Libby Madden, Managing Director.

After many years we returned to the Hunter Valley staying overnight at both Cypress Lakes Resort & Sebel Kirkton Park. The Hunter in mid-winter was an absolute picture and ideal for around a fire with a glass of local red….

Cypress Lakes have new function space within the function centre and the villas are undergoing refurbishment. Importantly the golf course still looked magnificent although I didn’t get the chance to have a hit. We are looking at a two day conference with 150 delegates cabaret style, exhibitors and a conference dinner in September. There were options both in the main function centre and/or the event centre (permanent marque). Thinking of drinks around the pool before dinner. Lots of possibilities and flexibility!

Sebel Kirkton Park still has a wonderful “country manor” feel about it and is an ideal destination for not only smaller groups but for groups of around 70+ you are able to have sole use of the resort. They have a new arrangement with a local vineyard for an offsite dinner which they cater for and provide transport. There is good conference space with great views over the valley, indoor heated pool and parlour off reception with a large open fire. Plans are afoot to extend the bar which will include a fabulous outdoor area for the summer months. The gardens are being redone and will add to the ambience of this venue. The food was simply great! Mike Schrafft, Director

Richard is participating in Dry July - the charity that helps adults living with cancer all over Australia - and has sworn off drinking alcohol for the whole month. That’s 31 days where he will actually be accountable for his actions!

In appreciation of his radical transformation, any generous support you may be able to offer will go a long way to ensuring he doesn’t fall off the wagon, as well as helping the many adults around Australia that live with this terrible disease. (That’s cancer. Not teetotalism).

His profile page link should you wish to make a donation and leave a message of support is: http://www.dryjuly.com/profiles/richardholt

VMS has sponsored Richard for $100 and invite others to follow. Mike Schraft, Director

We did registrations for 220 delegates commencing this morning at the Sydney Exhibition and Conference Centre. They employed a very unconventional conference format, utilizing a range of digital computer, phone technologies driven through internet and social media access but importantly 1:1 interaction. I am not sure every-body was on top of the technology but the noise generated by the excitement was simply beyond what I had ever experienced before. It will be interesting to see how it progresses over the next day. Mike Schrafft, Director.