AFF Gathering #9 - location choice

[tuapekastar]

Last year I offered to take the lead in organising if it was held in Cairns.

The offer still applies.

Compared to running the Flyer Talk Oz Fest #6 there the AFF crowd are tame and much easier to herd around.

We can do something about that.

 

[QF WP]

Voted for CNS. Been a while since I've been there and the Hilton & DT combo is a major pull. If I come by myself, might even be able to do a mattress run

 

[ALH]

Voted for CNS. Been a while since I've been there and the Hilton & DT combo is a major pull. If I come by myself, might even be able to do a mattress run

I've backed you up and voted for CNS as well.....anywhere suits me, as long as I need to fly to get there

 

[kpc]

Might as well start the poll for dates for Cairns now....

 

[slc767338]

My vote has gone to CNS also. The idea was suggested a while back I believe, to perhaps charter an aircraft down to LRE for a day or two.. That might just be a pie in the sky though - pardon the pun

 

[QF WP]

LRE is a lovely thought, but their infrastructure will be groaning at the seams if 50 of us turn up for a weekend.

 

[penegal]

The problem with LRE is actually airline yield management. BNE-LRE can be had for as low as $65-$75-$79 one way on sale, ~6 months in advance... The problem is getting 50 seats at that price.

---

There has been some discussion about chatting to QF directly about establishing a group rate which would be "fair" to both parties, and let us take a larger group. Most of the attractions in LRE can handle a group of that size, especially if we split into different groups for some of the key activities such as the "Wing Walk" at the the QOFM (Qantas Outback Founders Museum). Large groups actually work in our favour for activities such as a cruise on the Thompson River, and the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame & Outback Heritage Centre, as they offer group discounts.

Accommodation should be fine, as long as we don't pick a weekend with another major event.

I think we could do LRE as an event at some stage, but someone (not me) would need to take ownership of organising the logistics, and liaising with QF, etc.

 

[jojen]

Have just voted for Cairns as well. We really enjoyed our first AFF event in Melbourne and looking forward to AFF 9.

It was hard to decide as we have been to Longreach and really enjoyed our visit. The wing walk was amazing and the Founders museum very interesting. We stayed at a motel over the road from the airport. Very easy to get to, walk about 100 mts. While not up to Hilton standards was quite acceptable for a 2 or 3 night stay. There was also a lot to see in the town itself and for the ladies I was surprised at the number of shoe and hat shops !!!! They must like dressing up for the races. I do hope something can be arranged with Qantas to make a group visit possible.

Any idea on when a date will be decided on ?

jojen

 

[JessicaTam]

Have just voted for Cairns as well. We really enjoyed our first AFF event in Melbourne and looking forward to AFF 9.

It was hard to decide as we have been to Longreach and really enjoyed our visit. The wing walk was amazing and the Founders museum very interesting. We stayed at a motel over the road from the airport. Very easy to get to, walk about 100 mts. While not up to Hilton standards was quite acceptable for a 2 or 3 night stay. There was also a lot to see in the town itself and for the ladies I was surprised at the number of shoe and hat shops !!!! They must like dressing up for the races. I do hope something can be arranged with Qantas to make a group visit possible.

Any idea on when a date will be decided on ?

jojen

Once the location has been decided, dates can be discussed. Different locations have different school holidays/climate/local events that need to be factored in.

 

[samh004]

LRE is a lovely thought, but their infrastructure will be groaning at the seams if 50 of us turn up for a weekend.

I think they'll be fine. There's plenty of space

The problem with LRE is actually airline yield management. BNE-LRE can be had for as low as $65-$75-$79 one way on sale, ~6 months in advance... The problem is getting 50 seats at that price.

---

There has been some discussion about chatting to QF directly about establishing a group rate which would be "fair" to both parties, and let us take a larger group. Most of the attractions in LRE can handle a group of that size, especially if we split into different groups for some of the key activities such as the "Wing Walk" at the the QOFM (Qantas Outback Founders Museum). Large groups actually work in our favour for activities such as a cruise on the Thompson River, and the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame & Outback Heritage Centre, as they offer group discounts.

Accommodation should be fine, as long as we don't pick a weekend with another major event.

I think we could do LRE as an event at some stage, but someone (not me) would need to take ownership of organising the logistics, and liaising with QF, etc.

Unfortunately, all this year the lowest I've seen LRE is $105... quite an increase to years past.

I would likely be taking ownership of a LRE do, having just got back from a weekend there as part of a yearly pilgrimage to the AGM (as I'm a member of the foundation). The staff are all really lovely and I do think a group rate up on QantasLink, visit to the Stockmans Hall of Fame, night under the stars or on the Thompson for dinner, wing walks galore and tours of the 747 & 707, with a dinner to cap it off in the museum following a day of education at your own pace would be just what the doctor ordered.

And incase you didn't know, their restaurant just won the Outback Queensland Tourism Award for the second year in a row. The museum itself won it for the third in a row, and they're hoping to pickup a Queensland Tourism Award this Friday!

It was hard to decide as we have been to Longreach and really enjoyed our visit. The wing walk was amazing and the Founders museum very interesting. We stayed at a motel over the road from the airport. Very easy to get to, walk about 100 mts. While not up to Hilton standards was quite acceptable for a 2 or 3 night stay. There was also a lot to see in the town itself and for the ladies I was surprised at the number of shoe and hat shops !!!! They must like dressing up for the races. I do hope something can be arranged with Qantas to make a group visit possible.

I had hoped it would be organised in 2015, but ideally it would need to be a winter (their peak season) date and I might not have enough time now for that. But I do have the contacts to get the ball rolling and intend to move forward at some stage soon.

Once the location has been decided, dates can be discussed. Different locations have different school holidays/climate/local events that need to be factored in.

I know what my job will be

 

[JessicaTam]

I know what my job will be

I am sure there will be lots of helpers. Especially if it involves a 'pre-trip'!

 

[Fifa]

I would likely be taking ownership of a LRE do, having just got back from a weekend there as part of a yearly pilgrimage to the AGM (as I'm a member of the foundation).

You can count me in as I wouldn't miss a LRE 'Do' for anything .

 

[penegal]

Great post samh004.

Indeed, an LRE do would be great if we could get QF along for the ride, and I am sure the locals would be very welcoming.

I guess the question is whether it makes sense as part of this "big annual gathering", or as a separate event.

 

[penegal]

Ive nominated cairns. Barring any changes, hotel is now confirmed to be the shangri la. Just to be safe i booked a room for all weekends as we don't know which weekend we are holding this yet.

You booked 52 weekends?

Did the hotel telephone you to inform you that you are insane?

 

[samh004]

Great post samh004.

Indeed, an LRE do would be great if we could get QF along for the ride, and I am sure the locals would be very welcoming.

I guess the question is whether it makes sense as part of this "big annual gathering", or as a separate event.

With the weather usually found up there, the best time of the year would be May - September, before it gets too hot to handle. As most of the annual gatherings have been later in the year, while it's not a rule that they have to be, I would think it wouldn't sit right if the date was pulled forward that much so as to be a "Winter" event.

I'll try get started on emailing around this week.

 

[Awesom Andy]

With the weather usually found up there, the best time of the year would be May - September, before it gets too hot to handle.

And they start to get a bit more rain as it gets warmer as well (although still nowhere near Jan - Mar). Personally speaking, I would suggest either the 2nd weekend of October, (after the QLD school holidays), or the first/second weekend of September, (in between the end of North Asian countries school holidays and the start of QLD school holidays).

 

[slc767338]

If we want to choose a location.. Can we do it quickly? Because.. Well



Proceeding to price beat

 

[samh004]

If we want to choose a location.. Can we do it quickly? Because.. Well

Proceeding to price beat

If you were to choose a date, I'd pick one that wasn't during the school holidays or any other event up there, and probably early Spring so it wasn't too hot and muggy. The next step from choosing a location (all but decided) is to choose a date, and you could of course vote for the weekend/s you booked

 

[rainbowgirl]

If we want to choose a location.. Can we do it quickly? Because.. Well

View attachment 38072

Proceeding to price beat

This sounds like the drip pricing that some groups are trying to ban. $1 with a *. Lots of extra charges on top I'm sure.

 

[slc767338]

This sounds like the drip pricing that some groups are trying to ban. $1 with a *. Lot's of extra charges on top I'm sure.

You would be correct. Ts and Cs are quite clear that one way is normal price and the return is $1. Could easily be misconstrued - could be misleading consumers in the eyes of the ACCC?