The Trans-Tasman Business Circle lunch took place at The Star Event Centre with 920 guests in attendance.

WHAT YOU DID

Last month, members of the Trans-Tasman Business Circle congregated at The Star Event Centre to celebrate the strategic business alliance between Australia and New Zealand. Filled to capacity, the 920 person strong audience of VIPs enjoyed a formal business lunch while listening to keynotes from The Hon. Malcom Turnbull MP - Prime Minister of Australia and The Rt. Hon. John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand.

SPECIAL TOUCHES

Prior to the main event, all guests networked at a pre-lunch event on Sky Terrace, including 28 New Zealand business delegates accompanied by Billie Moore, Consulate General of New Zealand. Meanwhile, a VIP pre-lunch event entertained the leading business minds from Australia and New Zealand over glasses of NV Domain Chandon Brut and Barossa Valley Shiraz.

Rod McGeoch AO welcomed the honourable guests while Johnny Weiss, Trans-Tasman Founder and Managing Director shared opening remarks. During the Ministerial keynotes, guests enjoyed a lunch of mouth-watering Grain fed Beef Striploin and forest mushrooms accompanied by potato pave, cameralised onions and thyme jus, followed by a dessert platter of passion fruit cheesecake, berry panna cotta and salted caramel chocolate tart.

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES

With such high profile keynotes in attendance security posed a challenge to the seamless execution of the event. The Star Sydney’s world-class security team worked in collaboration with three security agencies including NSW Police, Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Prime Ministers’ offices, to ensure the security of the VIP guests on the day. The extensive security processes included property walk throughs with each party, use of explosive search dogs and increased security presences across the property.

To ensure safe arrivals, the official motorcades arrived at Astral Lobby, where the guests of honour were escorted through the security approved route to The Event Centre. The route, including lifts, was closed to public at this time to ensure no interruptions to the tight schedules.

To maintain the highest level of security, all guests proceeded efficiently through five lanes of screening and bags check, which were conducted by the Star’s security team.
A contingent of more than 90 media attending, including the official delegation for each Prime Minister, also had to be accommodated. In response The Star provided four corporate suites from which they could conduct business on the day.

As an iconic event, media also required broadcast capabilities. The venue allowed for seven broadcast cameras to capture the event from a riser within the Event Centre, to share the exciting event with a wider audience.