Routes Asia Networking and Marketing Awards shine in Brisbane in 2018

Routes Asia Networking Evening

Last month Brisbane played host to the annual Routes Asia Networking Evening, featuring the prestigious Routes Asia Marketing Awards. The event – hosted in a different city each year – is a highlight on the brand’s calendar to recognise excellence in airport marketing as voted by peers.

The evening is part of a larger Routes Asia incentive program including a conference, trade show and welcome drinks for esteemed guests within the airline industry, and acts as a key opportunity for the leaders of aviation services and air route development to conduct business.

The host city uses the event to promote its pull as a destination to secure future business with Asian airlines; the Queensland river city showcased their offering with the theme ‘Make Brisbane Shine’ to significantly impact the local tourism landscape.

Brisbane Airport Corporation engaged Staging Connections to produce the Networking Evening for 850 guests. The Staging team designed and supplied audio visual, styling and multimedia content for the event and provided onsite stage management to ensure the smooth operations at the venue.

The creativity of the Staging team really stood out for the client, pitching a magical, Australiana-themed Outback Spectacular Welcome Drinks under the stars, complete with live horses, a white picket fence and festoon lighting – taking full advantage of the warmer Queensland climate.

A touching Welcome to Country was performed by the traditional custodians of the land, the Nunukul people. A fiery smoking ceremony and dance live onstage celebrated Aboriginal culture and heritage and the ongoing relationship the traditional owners have with their land.

Throughout Brisbane City Hall, stunning images of iconic Queensland destinations were displayed on an impressive 18.5m LED screen, providing the ideal backdrop for the indigenous performance. A soloist from the Australian Girls’ Choir then took to the stage to begin a moving rendition of ‘I Still Call Australia Home’, before the huge LED screen was raised to dramatically reveal 50 fellow choir members, who gave the audience goose bumps with their performance.

Toni Kasch, Aviation Events Manager, Brisbane Airport Corporation, was thrilled with the outcome, “The Staging team designed an event that impressed even our most discerning international guests. This audience is accustomed to attending incredible experiences across the globe and we really surpassed their expectations.”

Staging Connections National Sales Director, Michael Magafa, agreed, “Our South-East Queensland team are consummate professionals and love the opportunity to combine the latest tech trends with creative design elements and really push the envelope.”