Event Highlights

Date: 5-9 March 2018

Event Type: International Conference

Delegates: 350

Key achievements: Fully flexible venue use, high speed, large-volume internet usage and special requests.

Introduction

The Learning Analytics and Knowledge Conference (LAK) was held for the first time in Australia in March 2018. Sydney University brought the event to Australia after a winning the bid to host the conference.

In 2016, prior to pitching for the business, Associate Professor of the School of Electrical and Information Engineering at Sydney University, Abelaro Pardo, contacted the SMC. With the limited information available at that time, the SMC worked closely with Professor Pardo to create an outline of the event including space and technology requirements that would be required for an event of this size.

Brief

The University of Sydney chose SMC for its large, flexible and multi-functional venue state of the art conferencing facilities and its accessibility to local Sydney hotels.

The LAK conference utilised the entire whole of the SMC venue, with plenaries, exhibition space and workshops all with extensive technical and operational needs.

One of the non-negotiables for this sizable international technology-enhanced learning conference was reliable and fast internet and wifi access. This multi-faceted conference also required simple, wayfinding signage inside the venue for its many conference sessions that included keynotes, breakouts and workshops. It also needed to highlight delegate hot spots for its international guests.

In a first for the SMC, they were also requested to supply a large amount of Diet Coke for breakfast for the mostly American delegates.

Solution

The SMC provided seamless contact with its accommodation partners, including several nearby options. The majority of delegates chose to stay at Rydges World Square, which meant they were only a few minutes’ walk from the conference venue.

Although the SMC already had superior internet, they went the extra mile to install an enterprise-class internet system at significant cost. The supplier surveyed the building and designed the access points to achieve wifi signal. As a result, SMC now provides the best venue internet and wifi services in Sydney.

The SMC team also utilised its excellent in-house digital; directional signage and pre-programed messaging for each breakout venue. This allowed the client to program up-todate, seamless transitioning of wayfinding messaging across the venue without any additional design, printing or ongoing updates throughout the conference; saving valuable time and money.

SMC Business Development Manager also ordered the Diet Coke especially for the client and added extra fridges to accommodate the client’s needs.

Result

The University of Sydney chose SMC because it was "handsdown the best venue available in Sydney". The organisers said they could not fault the SMC staff in the lead-up to the event. Conference Event Manager, Brooke Fuz said, "The AV was great and the support was there when needed". "It was the best wifi and internet service I have ever experienced. We never had one complaint about connection. We were advised of a large download that was slowing the speed and that user was shut down straight away.” "All the staff from SMC should be commended," she added.

Organisers said the Learning Analytics and Knowledge Conference was a huge success and that they hoped they could bring the event back to Sydney one day in the near future.

“...hands-down the best venue available in Sydney”