SkyCity Gears Up For Convention Centre Launch

MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
26 July 2004
SkyCity Gears Up For Glitzy Convention Centre Launch Event
Wednesday 28 july 2004

Some five hundred guests will be treated to a lavish launch party on Wednesday 28 July to celebrate the official opening of the SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre - the city's only purpose built-facility for large-scale events and functions.

The "Out Of The Blue" themed evening will showcase the venue's state-of-the-art technology and AV capabilities, excellence in catering and service, entertainment, event management and of course, the stylish new centre itself to key international tourism, conference and event representatives and local dignitaries.

Guests will arrive from 6:30pm and be treated to an entertainment experience like no other, with aerial acrobatic performances, live bands, roving theme characters, ice sculptures and canapés from the futuristic kitchen facilities before being seated for the main event - a full banquet dinner with all the trimmings. The entertainment continues through to the early hours of the morning for those keen to continue.

New Zealand Tourism Minister, Hon Mark Burton, Mayor of Auckland John Banks and SKYCITY Entertainment Group Managing Director, Evan Davies, will speak at the event and together conduct a special unveiling to mark the "opening" of the world class convention centre.

Since opening it's doors in early April 2004 for evening functions, the new SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre has served over 10,000 meals and hosted a number of prominent functions and events such as the Qantas media awards, the Special Olympics New Zealand fundraising gala dinner and the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation's In the Pink fashion show.

Following the launch event, the new SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre will be available for day, night and multi-day functions and the new facility has already secured more than 200 bookings for dinners, conferences and events in the next 12 months with other bookings as far forward as 2007 and delegate numbers ranging in size between 300 and 1600.

Situated opposite SKYCITY Auckland, on Federal Street, SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre, opened for business on Monday 5 April 2004 and has capacity for up to 1000 (banquet function) on one floor and 800 on another or 1500 (theatre-style) delegates (or a total of 2000 people banquet style over two floors). The $140 million development represents the largest commercial project currently underway in the city. On completion, it will comprise five floors of convention centre and 16 levels above will become the new SKYCITY Grand Hotel (scheduled to open in April 2005) providing 316 rooms of luxurious five star accommodation in the heart of the city. The SKYCITY Grand Hotel will offer guests also two restaurants, a club lounge, luxury spa and gym.

For enquiries and additional information phone SKYCITY sales/conference general enquiries on 09 363 6070 or visit http://www.skycityconventions.co.nz.

SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre features:

* Two levels of conferencing, exhibition and banqueting space totalling over 50000 m2 featuring a 1300m2 room with seating for 1500 theatre style or 1200 banquet, plus a second main room with 1040m2 of conference/exhibition space.

* Also two 670m2 foyers, nine breakout rooms, two boardrooms, two business offices and business centre facilities.

* Six and five metre high ceilings

* Retractable walls

* State of the art technology including wireless hot zones, high end sound systems and sophisticated data capabilities

Ends

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