November 2008
Exciting New Products from Australia's Northern Territory
Australia’s Northern Territory is introducing an exciting array of new products to the marketplace as part of its participation on the Australia Stand #E500 at EIBTM this year.
The AUD$29 million attraction, Crocosaurus Cove, featuring the awesome NT Saltwater Crocodile, recently opened its doors in Darwin to offer a unique social programme venue for conference and incentive functions and events. With at least seven enormous adult crocodiles on display in specially designed tanks and a range of interactive experiences available, it provides a classic Territory experience within walking distance of Darwin hotels and the new Darwin Convention Centre.
Two new hotels, The Medina Grand Darwin and the Vibe Hotel Darwin will open early in 2009 just adjacent to the convention centre and will provide a total of 241 new rooms for the city. Since opening in mid 2008, the 1500 seat Darwin Convention Centre has hosted over 83 events attended by more than 44,000 guests, who have seen why Darwin and the Territory itself is regarded as one of Australia’s most popular meetings destinations.
Meanwhile, in Central Australia, Australia’s sunniest town will soon be home to the country’s largest building-mounted solar panel system, following approval of an AUD$3 million installation at Crowne Plaza Alice Springs, one of the leading conference hotels. The project will see over 1,300 individual PV solar modules mounted on the roof of the hotel. Due for completion in early 2009, the installation will generate nearly 1,500 kilowatts per day, or over 530,000 kWh per year, which is enough to power more than 60 family homes. Importantly, it will provide between 40 and 80 percent of the hotel’s power requirements depending on the time of year, reducing its carbon footprint by 420 tonnes of CO2 and providing the perfect example of a “green” conference and accommodation venue.
The above announcement coincided with the opening of the new AUD$3.1 million Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre in Alice Springs. Expected to attract worldwide attention, it is the first site in Australia to publicly showcase a broad range of large scale working solar installations. The Solar Centre and its associated expertise assisted to attract more than 300 of the best business innovators, researchers and educators from the world’s desert regions to the biennial Desert Knowledge Symposium and Business Showcase in Alice Springs in early November.
“Considering that 70% of Australia is desert and one-sixth of humanity lives in desert regions around the world, this global discussion is crucial”, said Desert Knowledge Australia CEO John Huigen.
Delegates and speakers came from South Africa, India, USA, Denmark, Indonesia, New Zealand and most Australian states and territories.