len to speak at qme mining industry conference, page-2

Some idea on the magnitude of the QME event below, offers a great international publicity opportunity:

http://www.dailymercury.com.au/story/2010/07/02/qme-influx-of-10000-tests-citys-services/

Booked out for QME
Tom Williams | 2nd July 2010

TEN thousand people will converge on Mackay later this month, but not because of a rock concert or car rally.

It?s time once again for the Queensland Mining and Engineering Exhibition (QME) and our services are about to be stretched to the limit.

Always a topical issue, the accommodation shortage in Mackay is about to get out of control, with almost every double, single, twin-share or studio room, booked out between July 27 and 29.

Mackay Tourism general manager David Phillips said QME had grown each time it had been held since its introduction in 1993. Unfortunately, however, the amount of accommodation in Mackay, had not been able to keep up.

?The demand for accommodation has outstripped Mackay,? Mr Phillips said.

?We are currently working on a program that will accelerate the production of hotel rooms here.

?Last QME we had a small cruise ship at the harbour, specifically designed to accommodate some of the overflow from local hotels.

?This year we have to rely on some people camping, using mobile homes and staying with friends.?

?We are lucky that some businesses have offered to help provide accommodation for some of their counterparts from interstate,? Mr Phillips said.

Owner and manager of the Coral Cay Resort-Motor Inn on Nebo Road, Warner Banks, said his hotel was fully booked for QME.

Some bookings were made two years in advance.

?Most of the accommodation in Mackay is booked out years in advance for QME week,? Mr Banks said.

?It is a very major event for Mackay ... the people who have attended the conference before, they have preferences where they want to stay.

?We have 81 rooms here and every single one will be booked out over QME,? Mr Banks said.

QME exhibition manager Soren Norgaard said finding accommodation during QME was a real challenge.

?This year people have to drive from places such as Airlie Beach and Sarina, because of the lack of accommodation closer to the event,? Mr Norgaard said.