Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel has officially launched its business events offering, introducing a new purpose-built conference and meetings destination to the heart of Mooloolaba on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
The 12-storey, 180-room hotel is Australia’s first Avani hotel and the first new full-service internationally branded hotel to open on the Sunshine Coast in decades. Its arrival brings new premium accommodation and contemporary conferencing infrastructure to a region continuing to build its credentials as a business events destination.
The hotel offers five flexible meeting and event spaces, from intimate boardroom meetings through to conferences, product launches and networking events for up to 200 guests. At the centre of the offering is the 274sqm Avani Ballroom, which can accommodate 200 delegates theatre-style or cocktail-style, 180 on banquet long tables and 120 cabaret-style. The Ballroom can also be divided or combined with adjoining spaces to suit different event formats.
Additional venues include the 85sqm Mooloolah room, which opens onto a breakout terrace; the 62sqm Headland and Glasshouse rooms; and Cove, a 65sqm space accommodating up to 16 guests boardroom-style or 50 for cocktails. The hotel’s current meetings offering lists a maximum overall individual-room capacity of 200 delegates.
Kenneth Wagner, Managing Director of KPAT Hotels, which developed, owns and operates Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel under a franchise agreement with Minor Hotels, said the business events offering was an important part of the company’s broader investment in the Sunshine Coast visitor economy.
“The Sunshine Coast has all the ingredients of an outstanding business events destination – strong air access, an exceptional natural environment and a growing food, tourism and hospitality sector,” Wagner said.
“What has been missing is more contemporary full-service hotel infrastructure that allows businesses to bring their people together, accommodate them under one roof and create an experience that extends well beyond the conference room.
“With Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel, we’ve been able to deliver that combination. You can hold a strategy session or conference during the day, take the team to Sully’s Rooftop afterwards, stay onsite and then build in everything from wellness and dining to experiences around the Coast.”
The conferencing proposition has been deliberately designed around what the hotel calls “The New Way to Meet”, with an emphasis on taking delegates out of traditional “office-mode”. Programs can be tailored around the purpose of the gathering, incorporating activities such as yoga, painting, boot camps or off-site experiences, alongside more traditional conference formats.
Technology is integrated throughout the event spaces, with high-brightness laser projection, large motorised screens, integrated sound, wireless handheld and lapel microphones, touchscreen AV controls, presenter confidence monitors, HDMI connectivity and hearing assistance technology. Dedicated AV technical support is also available.
Catering is led by Executive Chef Hamish Pink and draws heavily on the Sunshine Coast’s farmers, fishers and producers. Day Delegate Packages start from $100 per person for a full day and include meeting space with natural light and breakout areas, morning and afternoon catering, lunch, barista coffee, hydration stations, Wi-Fi, AV equipment, an event concierge and a pre-event technology check.
Lunch options move beyond the traditional conference buffet, with concepts including a Coastal BBQ, Mediterranean Mezze, Nourish menu, Spice Road curry bar and Avani Deli. Event organisers can also choose from plated dining, food stations, canapés and beverage packages, or work directly with the culinary team on tailored menus.
Wagner said the objective was to create a product capable of attracting corporate meetings, conferences and incentive groups that may previously have looked outside the region.
“Business events are valuable because they bring people into a destination for a reason, but the opportunity is much bigger than what happens between nine and five,” Wagner said.
“We want delegates to experience the destination while they are here – the beach, the rooftop, the food, the hinterland and the wider Sunshine Coast. That creates a better event for the organiser and it generates economic activity beyond the hotel.”
The residential conference offering is supported by 180 rooms and suites, rooftop pool, AvaniSpa, AvaniFit, street-level Lobby Bar and Sully’s Rooftop on level 12, overlooking Mooloolaba Beach and the coastline.
Located at 10 Brisbane Road in central Mooloolaba, the hotel is approximately 15 minutes from Sunshine Coast Airport, with secure undercover parking available onsite.
Business event enquiries, proposals and site inspections can be arranged through the Avani Events team at events@avanimooloolababeach.
