Encore delivers Hearing Australia’s Annual Conference 2024
Hearing Australia Annual Conference 2024: From conference to awards night, Encore delivers a winning playbook for a seamless, sports-themed experience at Novotel Sydney Olympic Park.
Brief
Encore was proudly selected for another year to deliver the Hearing Australia Annual Conference 2024, held at Novotel Sydney Olympic Park’s Freshwater Ballroom. Hearing Australia, a leading provider of hearing services and devices, adopted a “Kicking Goals in 2024” theme for the event, inspired not only by the venue but by the AFL and NRL Grand Finals. Encore’s brief was to create a full production solution that brought the sporting theme to life, seamlessly transitioning from a daytime conference to an awards night that would engage and celebrate the 140 delegates in attendance. As the in-house production partner for the venue, Encore was tasked with providing a turnkey production solution. A key deliverable was integrating creative sports-themed elements while coordinating the rapid turnaround from conference to awards, ensuring a memorable experience for all.
The Solution:
The Hearing Australia Annual Conference began with a daytime conference, designed with a clean, simplistic look. Delegates were seated at banquet rounds, with a flexible stage setup of three projector screens with fixed frames decorated in green uplighting.
With a limited turnaround time, Encore’s team took a minimalist but effective approach, using lighting, Scenic Panels, and table styling to create a fresh and exciting sporting atmosphere for the awards night. The entrance was transformed to emulate AFL goalposts, with 3D Scenic Panels and white uplighting, while green astro turf replaced the typical red carpet to bring the sports theme to life.
Inside the ballroom, tables were styled with centrepieces featuring AFL and NRL balls set atop astro turf, surrounded by decorative candle votives. The lighting scape was set in Hearing Australia’s brand blue along with green to emulate the vibrant feel of a sporting stadium. The fun continued with delegates encouraged to dress up as
sports-themed characters, from cricket umpires to soccer balls, adding a festive and interactive element to the evening. Sporting games placed throughout the venue gave guests additional entertainment between award segments.
Following the formalities, delegates were invited onto the dance floor with a live performance from the Jellybean Jam band, capping off the night with upbeat tunes.
Challenges and Successes:
The evening showcased Encore’s exceptional capabilities when their production team turned a challenge into an opportunity. With the hotel at maximum capacity and bump-in time reduced by half, the team brilliantly demonstrated their versatility and collaborative spirit. Team members seamlessly expanded their responsibilities, expertly managing crowd movement while simultaneously orchestrating the room transformation.
The seamless transition between events was so smooth that delegates were unaware of any production challenges. Hearing Australia commended Encore for their flawless execution, noting that the unseen work behind the scenes exemplified the professionalism of a truly dedicated production team.
The Result:
The 2024 Hearing Australia Annual Conference was a resounding success. Encore’s sports-themed transformation delighted delegates, while the quick transition from conference to awards night provided a memorable and seamless experience. Hearing Australia expressed their appreciation for Encore’s dedication, flexibility, and expertise in delivering a polished, engaging event. Encore looks forward to building on this success in 2025, continuing its partnership with Hearing Australia to create another impactful conference experience.
