Gold Coast to host International Marina Conference

by Event Media on 15 Mar 2006 The Gold Coast’s reputation as the ideal setting for major conferences has been enhanced with the Marina Association of Australia (MAA) scheduling its international marina conference ‘Marinas 2007’ event for Surfers Paradise.

Staged in conjunction with the New Zealand Marina Operators Association (NZMOA), the conference has been set for May 28-30, 2007. It will be held at the five-star Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort.

The theme of ‘Marinas 2007’ will be ‘Marinas into the Future’, but its agenda will be extremely broad based and will cover every facet of the industry, including vital environmental issues, marina marketing and operational and management issues.

Industry identity and marina authority Mr Jeff d’Albora, president of the MAA, said the Conference would attract marine industry people from all around the world : marina owners, operators and managers, developers, marina support staff, consultants, state and federal government agencies and marina equipment and service providers, including representatives from the finance and insurance industries. 'We’re expecting key people from all those sectors of our industry worldwide,' he added.

Mr d’Albora said the conference would table a number of important objectives aimed at enhancing the industry’s professionalism.

'Primary objectives include promoting and strengthening sustainable partnerships for the future and the formation of a closer international alliance,' he explained.

'We’ll also be discussing the professional education and advancement for all delegates at the conference and would be delighted to hear from any attendees who may wish to present a paper at the conference.

'Other vitally important objectives include the promotion of new and current methods employed in marina management and operation and the promotion of new products and other advancements relevant to the industry worldwide' he added.

The Marina Association of Australia is also offering sponsorship opportunities to organisations interested in supporting what has been described as 'a unique event.'

More than 200 delegates, among them 70-plus Australians, attended the 2005 conference staged in New Zealand.

Timing of the 2007 event will see it coincide with the annual Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, the Australian Marine Awards, comprising the annual Boat of the Year honours and annual meetings of the Australian Marine Industries Federation (AMIF) and the Australian International Marine Export Group (AIMEX).

'The sponsorship opportunities offered by the MAA come at a time when the interest of the entire Australian marine industry will be firmly on the Gold Coast,' Mr d’Albora added.

For further information and inquiries contact the Marina Association of Australia, Crows Nest, NSW, AUS - telephone +61 2 9438-2077 or e-mail lavinia@bia.org.au