Crowne Plaza Canberra and National Convention Centre scoop ACT AHA awards

CANBERRA: Tuesday 17 June – Crowne Plaza Canberra and the adjacent National Convention Centre (NCC) emerged as the major winners at this year’s Australian Hotels Association (AHA) Awards for the ACT, scooping four major awards between them.

The NCC, which relaunched in late 2007 after a dramatic refurbishment to re-establish the centre as a world-class conferencing, event and convention facility, was recognised for its support of local community groups and charities with the 2008 Outstanding Community Achievement Award. Over the last year, the centre has driven and participated in a range of fundraising and community assistance activities, including a partnership with OzHarvest to feed the Territory’s disadvantaged, pulling two dragon boat teams together to raise money for breast cancer research and awareness, and participating in an 1,100 kilometre cycling fundraiser for the Starlight Foundation.

Crowne Plaza Canberra, which was also upgraded in 2007, took home several major awards, including those for Best Superior Accommodation and Best Restaurant in a Hotel (for redsalt). General manager for both Crowne Plaza Canberra and the NCC, Matt Young – who participated in the Starlight Foundation cycling challenge – personally received the special award at the AHA’s ACT Region Member of the Year.

Held last night at the NCC and attracting a who’s who of the Territory’s tourism sector, the annual AHA awards are the preeminent hotel industry event. Winners at the ACT awards are automatic entrants into the national AHA awards held later in the year.

“It’s fantastic to be recognised by our peers for excellence in so many areas, from the quality of our accommodation and dining through to the contribution we’re making to the industry and the community at large,” Matt Young said.

“The ability to set these benchmarks however, would not be possible without the passion and dedication of each and every member of the teams at Crowne Plaza Canberra and the NCC. Everyone’s worked incredibly hard not only to make these facilities fantastic places to stay, eat, meet and entertain, but most importantly, to give something back to our community.

“It is an absolute privilege for me to be a part of this close-knit family that has earned these awards. They deserve every recognition for their contribution to the Territory and its hotel industry,” Matt added.

MEDIA INFORMATION: Lauren Braid, Starr Public Relations – 02 9264 4411 / lauren@starrpr.com.au  

Collaboration the key to combating Canberra’s skills shortage

17 June 2008

The National Convention Centre [NCC] and Canberra Institute of Technology [CIT] joined forces in late 2007 to address the skills shortage in the hospitality industry and train the next generation of highly skilled food and beverage employees.

This initiative has proven a huge success with the first round of students, who currently work at the NCC, preparing to graduate.

“The partnership between the NCC and CIT is an example of the industry taking the initiative to combat the skills shortage in their own backyard. It allowed the recruitment team at NCC to focus on the ‘soft skills’ of the applicants – a desire to work in the industry, interpersonal skills and happy disposition - as the key traits for selection, as opposed to direct F&B experience and skills,” said Cindy Young, Manager, National Convention Centre.

Forty seven applicants were recruited into the opening team and received a total of 160 hours of on and off job training. Of these forty seven, 13 employees have completed the program and are still currently employed with the NCC in the Banquets, Reception and Kitchen departments.

“Many of the staff that we trained in partnership with the Canberra Institute of Technology have remained at the NCC, while others have moved on to other hospitality venues taking with them the skills that they have learned. This transfer of skills in turn raises the standard of employees throughout the Australian hospitality industry”, said Ms Young.

The graduation ceremony will take place at the National Convention Centre on Wednesday 18 June at 3pm. Graduates will be presented with their Certificate 1 in Hospitality Operations by Stuart Walsh, Director, Tourism & Hotel Management Centre, Canberra Institute of Technology.

“It was an honour for the Tourism and Hotel Management Centre from The Canberra Institute of Technology to support the NCC in the start up training for the newly refurbished Convention Centre and to undertake the training in such an innovative and effective manner on site at the new centre, we look forward to continuing to build this strong partnership and provide training support to the NCC in the future,” said Mr Walsh.  

National Tourism Alliance’s annual Qantas Australia Australian Tourism Awards

Canberra’s new National Convention Centre shone earlier this year when, as the official venue sponsor, it hosted the National Tourism Alliance’s annual Qantas Australia Australian Tourism Awards.

“I would like to thank the National Convention Centre for your sponsorship this year of the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards,” said chairman, National Tourism Alliance, Col Hughes.

“It was a fantastic night, the Exhibition Hall was very impressive and we have set a new benchmark for this event. The coordination by the team at NCC who assisted us with the event was extremely professional. We have had great feedback from many attendees regarding the meal and service.”

One of the first major events held at the NCC since reopening in late 2007 following a $30 million refurbishment, the Awards consisted of a sit down dinner with full production including on-stage dancing performances framing the official awards ceremony. A separate VIP Lounge was required for attending dignitaries (including Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson) to gather for pre-dinner drinks before a seamless entry into the main area for dinner and formalities. This was set up in the gallery – a soundproof room overlooking the exhibition space – with its own hospitality and entertaining service.

Once the event was well underway, the NCC team transformed the gallery into a lounge bar and chill room complete with its own DJ and hospitality. With the band and light show in full swing in the main auditorium, the soundproofed gallery offered full view of the spectacle in a much calmer setting. Guests were able to move easily between spaces to mingle and dance.

The National Tourism Alliance chose the NCC for its ability to cater to the growing number of attendees attracted to the annual event. While 960 confirmed guests was a record for the annual awards, the NCC had plenty of room for the assembly, with swift table service and an enviable sound system designed to cater for the space’s nine metre ceilings and capture every inch of its 70 metre width.

The main event space was themed using custom-made screens, each 20 metres across and spanning the room’s height, upon which were projected a rolling display of footage and stills courtesy of specialist company, Electric Canvas.

The kitchen’s only brief with regard to culinary theming was to make sure the meals were fabulous, supported by an extensive list of wines produced in and around Canberra. In addition to vegetarian options, guests enjoyed a three course meal starting with a range of tasting plates – Caramelised Onion Tart, Shredded Duck Confit, Balsamic Apple Glaze; Smoked Trout Tian, Avocado Salsa, Parsley and Salmon Roe Dressing; Ash Goats Cheese on Toasted Brioche, Betroot Relish – followed by second courses of Grilled Beef Tenderloin, Wild Mushroom Ragout and Potato Pancakes with Fresh Asparagus and Truffle Salsa. For dessert, guests chose The kitchen’s only brief with regard to culinary theming was to make sure the meals were fabulous, supported by an extensive list of wines produced in and around Canberra. In addition to vegetarian options, guests enjoyed a three course meal starting with a range of tasting plates – Caramelised Onion Tart, Shredded Duck Confit, Balsamic Apple Glaze; Smoked Trout Tian, Avocado Salsa, Parsley and Salmon Roe Dressing; Ash Goats Cheese on Toasted Brioche, Betroot Relish – followed by second courses of Grilled Beef Tenderloin, Wild Mushroom Ragout and Potato Pancakes with Fresh Asparagus and Truffle Salsa. For dessert, guests chose between Dark & White Chocolate Tower, Chocolate Brulee Mousse and Raspberry & Grand Marnier Compote.

Following dinner and the awards ceremony, guests had the choice of dancing to the live band, The Enormous Horns in the main exhibition area, or networking and relaxing alongside DJs, Mario Gordon and Ashley Feraude, in the Lounge Bar in the transformed upstairs gallery.

“The success of the evening is a credit to all involved,” said National Conventions Centre General Manager, Cindy Young.

“The use of drop-screens and projectors was really effective in creating different moods within the main entertainment space, whilst the gallery’s transformation first to a VIP Lounge and later as the event Lounge Bar was innovative and well-suited to this type of event. Overall it was a great result for our guests and the centre and we’re keen to see more of the same take advantage of this great venue in the nation’s capital.”