Celebrate the Melbourne Cup on the Gold Coast

According to events management experts, you don’t have to be in Melbourne to get the full Melbourne Cup experience — the Gold Coast does it better.

“The race is a part of Australia’s national culture,” says Gold Coast Turf Club CEO John Cameron.

“Having been to the Melbourne Cup for the last seven years I believe the Gold Coast can celebrate the event as much as anywhere else in Australia, if not better. The summer fashion here is especially at its best, the ladies on the Coast dress up to celebrate the cup better than anywhere else.”

After managing the Moonee Valley Race Club in Melbourne for four years, Cameron believes the Gold Coast has the right culture for the fastest growth potential of anywhere in Australia for the racing industry.

Following an exceptionally good crowd of 14,000 punters last year, Cameron says the indication from record sales and corporate pre-sold packages is that Australia’s premier racing event is recession-proof.

“Many businesses are valuing their loyal customers after a tough year and are rewarding these relationships by bringing clients to the Melbourne Cup festivities,” he says.

After 25 years in events management and marketing, Louise Carroll says the Melbourne Cup is one occasion that grows stronger on the Gold Coast each year.

“You don’t need to be in Melbourne to enjoy the Melbourne Cup,” she says.

“This is a national event that the Gold Coast embraces and celebrates in its own way.”

Carroll says the key to planning a successful Melbourne Cup function is to remember that guests have a clear definition of what the event is.

“The event is about having a bet and the excitement of the race, so the Melbourne Cup should always be the highlight of the day,” she says.

Carroll, whose portfolio includes more than 800 international touring acts and managing the first Gold Coast Indy 300 in 1991, says the events scene on the Gold Coast can very well compete with the major cities.

“The Gold Coast has the infrastructure, accommodation and locations to host any type of event successfully,” she says.

“In the last five years there has been a change in business attitude on the Gold Coast and the city has matured in a lot of ways with multi-faceted events.”

With events planners scrambling to organise the perfect function for the upcoming festive season, Carroll says the key to a successful occasion is to remember the essence of the event.

“I’ve seen many events suffer due to a lack of market expertise,” says Carroll.

“Plan the event around the occasion and if it’s a social event, make it social with the right mix of guests.”

Although cost is always a factor, Carroll believes you could do things on a shoe-string budget if you do it properly.

“The occasion provides an environment for guests to get dressed up and enjoy that process. Create a little more entertainment and invite a guest speaker or identity from within the industry for a successful event,” says Carroll.

Cameron agrees that the Gold Coast provides a unique platform for the success of any type of function.

“The Gold Coast is easily equivalent in that regards with any capital city in Australia,” he says.

“It certainly is a lovely place in the world and we are very excited about where it appears to be heading.”

EVENT CINEMAS AND BIRCH CARROLL & COYLE
THE race may only run over a few minutes but the aftermath of Melbourne Cup celebrations can go on for days.

Going to the cinema is a great way to unwind and leave the excitement of the spring races until next year.

Birch Carroll & Coyle and Event Cinemas continues its commitment to revolutionising the cinema going experience with the expansion of its 3D cinema locations across southeast Queensland.

In early November 2009, 3D cinema technology will be launched at Birch Carroll & Coyle Australia Fair in time for summer 3D blockbusters.

Event Cinemas Robina and Birch Carroll & Coyle Pacific Fair already have 3D technology installed and with the addition of Birch Carroll & Coyle Australia Fair the Gold Coast will be the place to go for a 3D cinematic experience.

With a huge amount of 3D movie releases this year, cinema goers will have now more opportunity to see these in 3D and are guaranteed to be amazed by the developments in this incredible 3D technology that will make them feel like they are actually in the movie.

3D is being hailed as a movie revolution, with this new technology the latest landmark in the development of movie-making.

The cinema has gone forward in three significant stages; from silent screen – to talkies, from black and white – to colour, and now 2D to 3D.

Audiences will still require the glasses but they will be light and easy to wear — a far cry from the cardboard glasses of the past.

Some sunglasses designers are even looking to produce 3D eyewear in their stylish frames so people can have their own 3D glasses.

MOO MOO’S BAR AND RESTAURANT
Enjoy your racing celebrations with park views at one of Queensland’s best steak restaurants.

Award-winning Broadbeach restaurant Moo Moo’s the Wine Bar and Grill has become a popular place for local businesses to hold racing events and other corporate parties.

Moo Moo’s sleek warm decor with focus on organic free-flowing curves, contrasting textures and finishes coupled with the state of the art lighting system, provide guests with an impressive dining experience.

Catering for groups of 10 to 120 people, executive chef Philip Edwards and the team at Moo Moo’s will create a memorable lunch or dinner event to celebrate the end of the year.

Restaurant manager Debbie Comber, says Moo Moo’s is always a popular choice for Melbourne Cup due to ‘great food, great wine and great company’.

“We’ve got a large projector screen and TV’s all around, a fashion parade in the afternoon and as expected our set menu is delicious,” says Comber.

“Plenty of prizes are also to be won with raffles and sweeps happening all throughout the day.”

LAUXES
LAUXES Lounge Bar and Restaurant is a thoughtfully designed multi functional event space perfect for your Melbourne Cup celebrations.

Located in the heart of Broadbeach directly opposite Conrad Jupiters Casino, Lauxes has quickly become renowned as the Gold Coast’s ultimate social experience for its lavish interiors.

Lauxes is a beautifully appointed open plan design that has the ability to transform from a sophisticated restaurant to an enchanting magical party space, providing a unique and inspiring event destination both day and night.

With a modern Australian menu, Lauxes has an array of delightful seductive sensations for your taste buds.

From the freshest of sea foods to saucy tender steaks Lauxes is a great Melbourne Cup venue whether you desire a long lazy lunch or are planning an unforgettable private or corporate event.

Lauxes has the flexibility to host a dazzling and memorable experience customised to suit all occasions and budgets.

SOUTHPORT SHARKS
Expect an afternoon of fine food, fashion and frivolity as Southport Sharks Function Centre celebrates the race that stops the nation.

The Functions Centre is the perfect venue for racing celebrations with the dedicated and experienced team offering professional assistance and packages tailored to make the big day simply enjoyable.

Choose the luncheon package and watch the main race plus live coverage from Flemington on three massive screens while enjoying a sumptuous three-course meal prepared by award winning chefs.

If a delicious seafood buffet is more your thing, the Melbourne Cup Frenzy package will satisfy and includes a glass of Leila sparkling or pot of Fosters Fat Yak.

To reward the ladies for their stunning frocks, the best dressed for the Melbourne Cup luncheon will win two nights at Aspect Caloundra Prestige Resort Apartments.

Live entertainment, a fashion parade and fabulous prizes up for grabs through raffles and sweeps make Southport Sharks the perfect place to celebrate the Melbourne Cup.

GOLD COAST TURF CLUB
The Gold Coast Turf Club is renowned as one of Australia’s premier racecourses holding 58 race meetings per year, racing every Saturday afternoon in paradise.

The club has a wide range of entertainment areas, boasting 16 bars, bistros, cafés and the popular a-la-carte Skyline Restaurant offering award-winning service and uninterrupted views of the winning post.

The Gold Coast Turf Club event professionals also have an array of raceday and non-raceday function packages available across 10 amazing venues and themed events to cater for all tastes.

Spring carnival dining packages are available for Caulfield Guineas, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and VRC Derby racedays. Packages include racecourse entry, luncheon and reserved seating.

The club’s Spring High Tea event will be a highlight on the Spring Carnival calendar. To be held in the Board Room on Saturday 10 October, guests will enjoy an afternoon of high tea, scrumptious treats, gourmet canapés, fashions and live entertainment in elegant high tea style.

The action will continue on the first Tuesday in November. Watch the ‘race that stops a nation’ and enjoy a quality live racing program, fashion parades and live entertainment with full bar, tote and bookmaker facilities.

Melbourne Cup dining packages are still available. Enjoy a mouth watering luncheon and the atmosphere of live racing on Melbourne Cup day in air-conditioned comfort.

Q-DECK
Celebrate the racing season on top of the world at Q-Deck
QEvents has put together a new range of festive season celebrations to cater for a variety of group sizes and budgets.

QEvents manager Tracey McMillan, says this year Q-Deck is providing options that suit all businesses with special packages for QBar and the Skylight Room.

“Our corporate parties are very popular for smaller office groups or people wanting to wow their clients or VIPs,” she says.

The Skylight Room for QEvents, located on Level 78 of the iconic Q1 Tower, is the Gold Coast’s highest enclosed conferencing and events venue.

Conveniently situated beachside in Surfers Paradise, the Skylight Room provides spectacular, uninterrupted views reaching from the surf to the Hinterland and beyond.

With superior service and customised contemporary menus by leading chefs, the QEvents team can transform your special event into a breathtaking, unforgettable experience making Q-Deck the ideal place to book your Melbourne Cup function.