Just an hour’s drive from the centre of Melbourne, Foothills Conference Centre in Mooroolbark has doubled its meeting space providing meeting planners with an affordable conference and accommodation venue catering to up to 250 delegates. The expansion plan also includes an extensive building program that will take its 54 guest rooms to over 100, placing the venue as one of the largest in the Yarra Valley Region.
Mooroolbark’s Foothills Conference Centre is all set to become one of the largest meeting spaces in Victoria
Situated on a sprawling 20 acre property just moments from the Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges, Foothills Conference Centre was purpose built in 2005 and features a main Conference room capable of seating up to 180 for dining, or 250 theatre style. There are six other rooms of different sizes for breakouts and two lecture theatres. Wattletree Restaurant & Bar and Fireside Lounge can also be used for meetings, whilst accommodation comprises 54 well appointed guest suites and two self-contained cottages.
Conference Centre Manager Li Penman says that Foothills Conference Centre expanded its facilities in response to demand from meeting planners seeking local venues that could cater to larger numbers. “Foothills offers an affordable alternative to city venues and our increased meeting space means larger groups can now look locally for large meeting space, providing companies with major savings in cost and convenience.”
Li says the next stage of the expansion is to increase the number of guest rooms to 100. “The new guest rooms will be serviced by a major expansion of the central facility. By offering a large number of rooms with excellent facilities and in a beautiful location, Foothills believes it has all that is needed to keep Victorians at home and to attract interstate events,” she says.
Onsite facilities include swimming complex, open-air amphitheatre, tennis, volleyball and basketball courts. The landscaped grounds which have recently been enhanced by the planting of thousands of natives such as flowering gums, wattles and banksias provide a brilliant canvas for team building exercises. Local attractions include wineries, golf courses, trails for horse riding and lakes for sailing, canoeing and fishing.
“Being less than an hour from the city, delegates reap the benefits of the country without being miles from the office. They can relax and focus on the task at hand without all the outside distractions,” says Li.
More information on conferencing at Foothills Conference Centre can be found by clicking here.
