Two years of staff working harder than ever during the global pandemic saw the entire ICMS Australasia team taken away to Alice Springs in July for a part-reward, part-development experience.
With significantly increased workloads and travel restrictions in place during 2020 and 2021, the staff conference was postponed until 2022, when ICMSA Owner and Managing Director Emma Bowyer put a potential destination for the get-together to a team vote.
A unique and contrasting Australian setting was sought to fulfil both professional and social experiences. Alice Springs and the Northern Territory was the winner.
Attendees included ICMSA’s senior and junior meeting and event planners, web designers, communication specialists, administration and finance staff — 27 people in total.
Reconnecting through shared ideas
The program’s business sessions at Alice Springs Desert Park and Alice Springs Convention Centre included the sharing of the company’s strategies and future goals, as well as brainstorming workshops on secured upcoming conferences. Collectively, staff generated more than 1,000 new ideas designed to add value and enhance events for ICMSA clients.
The reconnection between staff was creatively achieved over four days through workshops and extra-curricular activities. These included a private viewing of Alice Springs Desert Park’s renowned facilities and bird show, an Aboriginal dot-painting workshop with Ayeye Atyenhe Art, and a group camel ride in the desert.
A true highlight was an early-morning hot-air balloon ride. Arriving at the launch site in pitch desert darkness, the group watched two balloon envelopes rise with blasts of hot air from the fiery burners. At first light they were up and away as the sun slowly appeared over the majestic MacDonnell Ranges.
Another engaging group activity took place at Purple House, an Alice Springs social enterprise that provides important kidney-dialysis services for Aboriginal patients in the Northern Territory. ICMSA staff participated in making traditional Bush Balm®, which Purple House sells to help fund its work.
The four-day program was topped off with a Priscilla, Queen of the Desert-themed dinner at The Old Quarry, an outdoor space surrounded by sheer rock walls. The group sipped cocktails as the sun set, before an artisan-style outback dinner, dancing and entertainment from a local rock band.
ICMSA Owner and Managing Director Emma Bowyer said the decision to take the entire team to Alice Springs was not made lightly.
“The experiences and opportunities we have now all shared together will stay with us forever.”
“Alice Springs and the Northern Territory is a truly unique and quintessential Australian destination, aligning perfectly with our own corporate values.”
“I highly recommend it as a destination for an incentive or a meeting for groups small or large. We spoke to Northern Territory Business Events about our program and they provided excellent guidance to us on all elements.”
ICMSA is considering a shortlist of two destinations for its 2023 Staff Professional Development Conference.