A series of sustainable initiatives
has been launched to streamline the planning process of environmentally friendly
events in Cairns in Queensland, Australia.
Business Events Cairns and Great
Barrier Reef has partnered with Reforest, a carbon offset programme that will assist event planners in calculating their event's high-level carbon footprint and offset it through a localised tree planting and revegetation programme in endangered Mabi rainforest on the Atherton Tablelands.
Business Events Cairns and Great
Barrier Reef, managing director, Rosie Douglas said, "Events can fully offset their carbon footprint through the
Reforest programme or make a partial contribution and offer delegates the
opportunity to contribute to the programme throughout the event."
"The partnership is an easy option for events looking to
enter into an offsetting carbon programme of any capacity, making it accessible
to all business events.
A new Sustainable Travel Hub has also launched on the Cairns
& Great Barrier Reef destination website to help share information on the value
that the region places on the environment and community.
"Showcasing interactive conservation projects, immersive
cultural experiences and eco-certified operators such as the Quicksilver Group
and the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino, the hub will help event planners and
delegates to understand the value our region places on the environment and our
community,” Douglas added.
"The Sustainable Travel Hub comes after the launch late last
year of an Accessibility Hub on the Cairns & Great Barrier Reef
destination website to assist people of all abilities to identify
accommodation, tours and activities suitable to their needs.”
Cairns Convention Centre is undergoing a AUD176 million
refurbishment and 10,500sqm expansion scheduled for a full reopening in May
2023.
Cairns Convention Centre
general manager Janet Hamilton said:“Our
first event in the new expansion will be the Queensland Legislative Assembly,
meeting for the sixth regional sitting of the Queensland Parliament, 9-11 May,
2023. Following on from this, many national and international conference
delegates will get to experience our amazing new venue”
The Cairns Convention Centre expansion includes a large
undercover, tropically planted forecourt, and an expanded main entry lobby on
the entry levels. The Mezzanine level will have a 410-seat plenary lecture
space that can be divided into two spaces, three 110 seat meeting rooms, and
exhibition space for up to 30 display booths.The new third level
includes a 500-sest banquet room with a large adjoining pre-function space and
external terrace with spectacular views over Trinity Inlet.
