3. Melbourne Convention Centre
Experiences &/or lessons learned
What did it take
What were the challenges
How did we interface and with who
What about existing business
Melbourne has set a new world benchmark for meetings, it is home to the most advanced convention and exhibition centre in the southern hemisphere.
It is raising event venue standards to new heights ……and therefore ensuring that your organisation can be proud, and assured of a successful event.
The Centre is integrated with the current award winning exhibition centre (30k sqm) and is technologically advanced, and environmentally sound.
Event Organisers will also be confident in working with a very experienced team of event professionals, many who have been with the centre for over 10 years. (n 90, 96) The team has gained a great deal of experience having operated over 1000 events per year.
The team prides itself in its operational capability and has proven this many times over,
from being the first centre to be voted the world’s best ……………..to operating Australia’s first venue to achieve international quality accreditation,
It is a convention centre like no other , and all this at an affordable cost.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, there are no hidden costs, we have built one of the most visually striking, innovative convention centres in the world, with end to end service, at no extra cost to our clients.

4. Melbourne Convention Centre
Experiences or Lessons Learned
Challenges
Lessons and Advice
Start-up
Melbourne has set a new world benchmark for meetings, it is home to the most advanced convention and exhibition centre in the southern hemisphere.
It is raising event venue standards to new heights ……and therefore ensuring that your organisation can be proud, and assured of a successful event.
The Centre is integrated with the current award winning exhibition centre (30k sqm) and is technologically advanced, and environmentally sound.
Event Organisers will also be confident in working with a very experienced team of event professionals, many who have been with the centre for over 10 years. (n 90, 96) The team has gained a great deal of experience having operated over 1000 events per year.
The team prides itself in its operational capability and has proven this many times over,
from being the first centre to be voted the world’s best ……………..to operating Australia’s first venue to achieve international quality accreditation,
It is a convention centre like no other , and all this at an affordable cost.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, there are no hidden costs, we have built one of the most visually striking, innovative convention centres in the world, with end to end service, at no extra cost to our clients.

5. MCCD Project - History
MCC opened 1990
MEC opened 1996
By 2003 MECC combined was Australia’s largest exhibition centre but eighth largest plenary facility and separated by the Yarra

6. MCCD Project – Convention Centre and South Wharf Precinct
State Government $370 million
City of Melbourne $ million
Plenary/Austexx $1000+ million
Business case
Design Solution
Lobbying

7. What did we want
A 4,000-5,000 capacity convention centre with associated facilities ,
A 4-5 star green star rating
18,000 square meters of additional exhibition space ,
physical connections back and front of house of all facilities and
a suitable quality and size hotel on site
A design and construct solution

8. What did we get
A 5,500 capacity convention centre with associated facilities and a 6 star green star rating ,
Land reserved for a further 15,000 square metres of exhibition space
physical connections back and front of house of all facilities
A 396 room 5 star Hilton hotel PLUS
50,000 sq. mtrs. of retail, 12 storey office tower, 32 town houses, 16 restaurants and bars.
A PPP

10. What did it take
Business case
Design Solution
Lobbying
Lobbying by others -friends of the Centre
Put yourself on the line

11. Challenges Change of government Funding model
Maintaining design and functional integrity
Identifying the critical decisions
Having the right influence over the critical decisions

12. Interface with the PPP
Live with them,
Tour with them
Take them to the right places
Make them talk to the right people
Create a team mentality

13. Ongoing business
Construction protocols
Customer communication
Pricing strategies
Over service existing customers
Employ specialist resource/s.
Make many on the team part of the design team and generate ownership
Build momentum, many briefings, many updates, site tours

14. Challenges
Sticking to scope
Living on site
Weekly meetings in the construction office not in our offices
Monitoring short cuts
Keeping all parties up to the mark
Changing of key personnel
Nature of contract meant that escalation was not a problem but cost cutting was !!!

15. Lessons and Advice
Keep the Bureaucracy to a minimum by building trust
Ensure the government believes you have the answers
Be determined, stubborn, inflexible,
Set extremely high standards
Push a collective mentality
Build your own expertise

16. Lessons and Advice
Respond quickly and decisively
Take everyone on the journey
Be self effacing
Understand value
Be willing to contribute
Give yourself time

17. Exhibition Centre
Convention Centre
Hilton Hotel