The event to introduce Sky City's new convention facilities to Aucklanders
and special guests was a great event, according to many attendees. As
was the event a few days later to introduce the refurbishments at the
nearby Aotea Centre. (See page 23 and page 24 for details.) The competitive venues
must have been keeping mum about what they were doing because who would have
guessed that they had each booked the same band to perform during the night? Golden
Horse played at both gigs, giving those who attended both events and there were
many reason to do a double take when the band came on....again. We think the band
should be dragged over hot coals for this one.
It would be remiss of us not to mention the official opening of the Perth
Convention Exhibition Centre in August, or the opening of the Gold Coast
Convention & Exhibition Centre in July. Both centres will no doubt be
welcome additions to the destinations they are located in.
In our July edition of our New Zealand version of mice.net micenz.net
we gave a thumbs down to a downright rude immigration official in
Christchurch (miceNZ.net July 2004, page 76). We're happy to say that
on their next trip to Christchurch our intrepid reporter had a much more pleasurable
experience. But now, unfortunately, we have further reason to complain, this time with
customs officials in Auckland. Another of mice.net's travelling journos has kept mum
about their last two experiences at Auckland International Airport, but when they were
again met with rudeness and apparently unnecessary questioning for the third time
recently, they were "Not happy Jan". Immigration is of course a necessity, however,
why are these officials being so rude?
UP / DOWN
D
thumbs up
thumbs down
C
Thumbs up to the Hilton Auckland for its
outstanding service and attention to detail,
which was recently experienced by two mice.net
magazine staff. The hotel's exceptional five-star
service never once faltered during the two-day
stay at the waterfront property. Even when a cruise
ship docked alongside the hotel sending its 1000+
passengers to queue near the hotel for immigration,
Hilton staff kept the disturbance to a minimum
for its guests and helped ensure traffic ran as
smoothly as possible on the congested Prince's
Wharf. Thanks Hilton for a pleasurable stay.
Just when the Northern Territory was
getting used to having Virgin Blue flying
from Sydney to Alice Springs the airline has
decided to cut the service. mice.net hears that
Voyages is one tourism operator that is unhappy
with the decision. One can only hope that one of
our other airlines will make up the slack.
Thumbs up to the Melbourne Exhibition
and Convention Centre which has teamed
up with Victorian boutique wineries to supply
red, white and sparkling wines to the centre for
the 2004/5 financial year, in a deal worth more
than $330,000 to the Victorian wine industry. The
centre's ongoing support for the industry has been
welcomed by the Victoria Wine Industry Association
who say such high profile support is fundamental
to the success of the Victorian wine industry. Well
done MECC.
C
D
C
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18 mice.net
C
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