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November 8, 2008

While much of the business world is reeling from economic uncertainties and taking a gun shy approach to promoting premium products, the corporate events and sales teams at Dreamworld and WhiteWater World have done the opposite: gone all out to showcase a line-up of activities and dazzling back drops to the business community.

On Wednesday, October 29, Dreamworld and WhiteWater World, in conjunction with staging partners and event suppliers, held a progressive moonlit Expose event for more than 100 Professional Conference Organisers event bookers, tourism partners and corporate clients from the banking, finance, education and sporting industries.

Starting at WhiteWater World with a meet and greet from SpongeBob Squarepants and Goldie the Clown, the event progressed in carnival style past Flowrider to Tiger Island for a spectacular Big Cat presentation and hors deauvres. A seated a la carte dinner in Central Café was the prelude for the evening’s headline act, electric string trio, Maske, before the night ended on a nine storey high on one of Dreamworld’s signature white-knuckle thrill ride, The Claw.

Cathie McBean General Manager Sales explained that with the economic uncertainties impacting on long haul incentive and conference travel, the team is focusing on the domestic market.

“I believe we will see some incentives and conferences divert from heady off-shore events to staging events closer to their backyard. They still want the razzle and the dazzle, but without the additional costs of travelling offshore,“ she added.

Dreamworld is also responding to the business environment by creating new products that have all the trimmings of an exclusive after-dark event, but at a portion of the cost to each subscriber. This is achieved by providing organizations with the opportunity to opt into an exclusive seasonal or holiday event by purchasing a minimum of one table.

“Every year Dreamworld stages Corporate Christmas parties under the stars in which any business can buy a table - or ten – for an event that holds approx 500 people. The take up was fast this year, and we ended up extending the three nights to four. As a result we will look to pilot more themed events in early 2009.”

AUTUMN, Fire twirlers and tribal drummers welcome guests to Tiger Island

WHAT WE DID

Expose Program - A Season of Progression

6.30pm            Summer: Under a balmy Queensland sky dappled with a sliver of moonlight and hundreds of stars, guests arrived at WhiteWater World where they were met by Kenny & Belinda and Goldie the Clown (dressed in an old fashioned neck-to-knee swim suit). In line with the Queensland beach theme, platters of hand-rolled sushi and plump oysters in Bloody Mary shots were downed with a refreshing tropical fruit cocktail served in fluroescent glow glasses. In the background, local band, Beach Brothers played summer tunes.

7.00 pm           Rock Stars of the cartoon world, SpongeBob SquarePants and his trusty side kick character, Patrick Starfish, rolled up to the shores to escort our clients from a watery world to Dreamworld next door. On the way, the group passed a 1500 person capacity events venue, The Shell, and a presentation of flow boarders on Australia ’s only permanent wave installation, Flowrider. Suitable for groups from 10 to 100, Flowrider takes an interactive approach to moving conversations from the board room to the flow board.

7:15 pm            Autumn: Fire twirlers and tribal drummers in primal prints play with arrows of flames to take the adrenaline to the next level of danger – an evening presentation with the Big Cats of the Jungle.  The theatrical prelude ends with hula hooping with a ring of flames that is eventually doused in one big gulp.

7.20 pm           Guaranteed to give a wildly different dinner conversation, Dreamworld’s Tiger Island presentation offers a spectacular insight into the majestic kings of the jungle. Watch as they leap high logs to snap at a chunk of fresh chicken, climb 7 metres up a vertical tree, and sit perfectly straight for the pleasure of a carton of full cream milk. Following the 15 minute behavioural display guests had the chance to reach out and touch the tail of our Sumatran Tiger cubs as they darted by, sniffed at toes and generally amused the crowds. Prior to this, Golden Ale, orange Fanta and cool glasses of sparkling wines were served at themed tiger print table tops as guests enjoyed their entree: crisp breads thickly coated in ripe avocado and tiger prawns, of course.

8.00 pm           When the presentation ended, a shriek of the jungle chanteuse signalled it was time to progress to the next destination: Main street , stopping along the way to greet some of Australia ’s most iconic animals including a green python, the common nose wombat and a cuddly Koala.

Winter: Central Café , the hub of Dreamworld’s fast food scene proves once more just how quickly this theme park can flip from burgers to banquets and from entertaining to elegance. With the setting transformed into a white Winter Wonderland replete with snowflake lighting, heavy white curtains and table clothes and huge opalescent light bulbs, guests were provided with a table d’hote choice of tender juicy steaks topped with local lobsters or salmon with cous cous.

The sound of a violin string marked the start of headline act, Maske. Having performed in 16 countries around the world already this year, the electric string trio – dressed in themes of white - pumped out a medley of classical pop showstoppers that had the audience tapping their toes.

9.00 pm           Spring: Dreamworld’s favourite clown, Goldie, alters the atmosphere and entices our delegates to Main Street . Under the arm of the signature thrill ride, The Claw, guests were served skewers of fresh Queensland fruits either dipped in Bundaberg Rum and caramalised over flaming pineapples or languished in a fountain of melted chocolate. To the beat of a DJ, delegates were then invited to sink their talons into some real terror and swing nine storeys high on Dreamworld’s biggest scream machine.  

10:00   The seasons for Expose end and guests are waved goodbye by our characters.

Special touches

Brought in a seasonal theme to the progressive dinner, with each venue themed differently to the last from the choice of food, to the colours and the entertainment. The Summer beach side venue offered seafood and tropical fruit punch and a band in Hawaiian shirts. The main meal was served in Winter, with a classic pop group so wintry cool they were hot.