National PCO team discovers Mackay’s magic

National PCO team discovers Mackay’s magic

PCO and event planner ICMS Australasia (ICMSA) recently discovered a surprising new destination in North Queensland when their annual staff conference went to the tropical city of Mackay.

A range of quirky and interesting meeting venues was incorporated into the conference programme, which also included visits to some of the region’s more outstanding locations.

ICMSA general manager, Emma Bowyer, summed up the group’s impressions as “a destination that surprises.”

“It has all the infrastructure of a major city but the feeling of exclusivity. The access to beaches, regional attractions and first class food and beverage is as good as any destination on the top of my list in Australia,” Bowyer added.

This year’s staff conference was extra special, being held in the 50th birthday anniversary year of ICMSA. It was deemed important that they visit a destination which would deliver plenty of ‘birthday year’ wow factor and Mackay certainly stepped up to the mark, with a surprise birthday cake welcome on arrival at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre (MECC).

One of the off-site adventures entailed a journey into the rolling green hills of the Mackay countryside to the Old Station Teahouse at Cape Hillsborough. The Teahouse is actually a fully restored old train station situated in stunning tropical gardens and the ICMSA long-table dinner on the deck under the trees provided one of many memorable insights into what the region has to offer.

ICMSA executive manager, Suellen Holland, provided enthusiastic feed-back. “Great balance and terrific people – it was the best famil I’ve been on. The Old Teahouse Station was exceptional.”

Other venues used for the conference included the Clarion Hotel Mackay Marina Marquee, Paxton’s Warehouse, the Eimeo Pacific Hotel, regional art gallery Artspace, the MECC, Uneek Industries, the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens and even a water-tank rooftop.

For more information on the MECC and Mackay, visit www.mackayecc.com.au

icmsa-dinner-on-the-deck-at-the-old-station-teahouse

Latest News

  • Aviation
  • News

Profile: Delta CEO Ed Bastian

Bastian says the airline business isn't for the faint hearted. We're sure Alan Joyce would agree!