Southpoint Retail & Dining Precinct Officially Opens

A wave of new dining and retail will commence trading this Friday 17th February at Southpoint. Among the new tenants are The Pantry on Grey - a 600sqm gourmet fresh food market, Stone Artisan Bakers, Mrs Luu’s Vietnamese Canteen, TerryWhite Chemmart and Neil Perry’s first Queensland-based Burger Project. It has been confirmed that Neil Perry will be on site on the day in the kitchen so be sure to check it out.

Adding to this, it was recently announced that Southpoint's heritage listed Collins Place will be transformed into a modern Queensland pub by Solotel, the award winning team behind Aria and Riverbar & Kitchen. The yet-to-be-named venture is set to open in mid-2017.

You can stay up to date with the latest news and openings at Southpoint by following their Facebook page.

New Name and Location for South Bank Pharmacy

On Thursday 16 February, BSB member Southbank Chemmart Pharmacy (currently located at 189 Grey St) will be closed in preparation for its relocation.

It will reopen on Friday 17 February as 'Terrywhite Chemmart South Bank' at its new premises - Tenency 5, Southpoint, 271 Grey Street (inside the Woolworths complex).

The Pharmacy will hold an official public opening event in a few weeks. 

Small Business Entrepreneur Grants Program

Check out the new Advance Queensland grants on offer to help small businesses develop their entrepreneurial skills, tap into expert know-how and grow their business.

The Small Business Entrepreneur Grants provide matched funding of up to $5,000 to help businesses access professional advice and support in the critical early development stages.

Funding for round 1 closes 3 March, so get in quick.

Click here for more information.

World Science Festival Brisbane Volunteers

In its second year, the World Science Festival Brisbane (22-26 March) are calling for volunteers.

Roles will vary from helping out on site, registration and reception duties, to assisting staff at event sessions, directing festival goers and distributing event information.

Simply spend 5-10 minutes filling in the 2017 Volunteer Form and their Volunteer Coordinator will get in touch to discuss your interest and confirm if your application has been accepted.
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Click here to fill in the form.

Massimo Speroni announced as Head Chef at the acclaimed Bacchus Restaurant Brisbane

After a global search, celebrated Italian flavour maker and fine dining specialist Massimo Speroni has been appointed Head Chef at the multi-award winning Brisbane restaurant, Bacchus, Rydges South Bank.

Speroni joins the Bacchus team direct from the 2 Michelin-starred restaurant San Domenico in Imola, Italy where he was Sous Chef, working with owner-chef Valentino Marcattilii.

In late January, and under the baton of Chef Speroni, the Bacchus kitchen team opened for the 2017 year, delivering a new menu created by him. While the essence of the Bacchus dining experience will remain the same - focusing on inspired modern Australian flavours and dishes - the new menu celebrates foods through Chef Speroni's lens, one which leans towards fresh, clean and light classically created dishes.

The Art of Teamwork
Professional Development Session - Members Only Event

You are invited to join in Business South Bank (BSB)’s first professional development session for 2017 - with a difference!

This session will be hands-on as you challenge yourself in a practical simulation, hosted by BSB member, Directors of the Extraordinary (sister company of Escape Hunt Brisbane).

You will takeaway tips on:
     • Personality typing – how to navigate your team dynamics
     • Problem solving
     • Time management
     • Communicating effectively
     • When to lead and when to follow

Time: 11.50am - 2pm
Date: Wednesday, 8 March 2017
Venue: BSB Auditorium, 70 Merivale Street, South Brisbane

Cost: $25pp for Silver and Bronze members
         $10pp for Platinum members
         Light Lunch included

Click here to register.

BSB Sustainability Committee’s Open Meeting

BSB members are invited to attend BSB’S Sustainability Committee’s Open Meeting.

Purpose of Meeting:
     • Hear about the results of the recently completed CRC report into potentially precinct-wide initiatives;
     • Hear about current collaborative initiatives;
     • To collaborative opportunities for your organisation,
     • Meet BSB’s Sustainability Sub-Committee.

Who should attend: Sustainability Managers, Operations Managers, anyone interested in collaborating in precinct-wide sustainability initiatives.

Time: 12.15pm- 1.30pm
Date: Wednesday, 15 March 2017 (light lunch served)
Venue:  BSB Office, 70 Merivale St, South Brisbane

Please email Jane on jane@businesssouthbank.com.au if you would like to attend.

Brisbane Street Art Festival 2017

The Brisbane Street Arts Festival (BSAF) is back for its second year in February 2017 with an absolute stellar line up of local, interstate and international artists. With over 20 different locations around the city the BSAF 2017 program will offer a kaleidoscope of colour, sound and movement to capture the hearts and minds of this wonderful city.

It’s a cultural event that invites anyone and everyone to explore, create, collaborate and inspire by bringing people together through art.

BSB members Queensland Museum and Aria Property Group (Fish Lane) are proud supporters of BSAF and will be hosting some of the events and displays right here in South Bank.

Click here to check out the festival program.

The Fox Hotel
Express lunch in Fish Lane Bistro

Express lunch $19 with a glass of wine or heineken. Available in Fish Lane Bistro only between 12pm and 2.30pm.

Book a table on Dandys Rooftop for 4 - 10 guests on a Friday afternoon between 4pm and 6pm and receive a free pizza.

Click here to view more Advantage Offers.

Wheel of Brisbane

Name and position?
Richard Dixon – Managing Director, Wheel of Brisbane

Tell us about your business/organisation?
The Wheel of Brisbane is a privately owned company and is a premier attraction in the Cultural Precinct of Brisbane, South Bank. Our observation wheel provides 360 degree views of the precinct, the river and the city from the comfort of an air-conditioned gondola. The sights from inside the gondola are described in on-board commentary and with the aid of a brochure we aim to provide our guests with a complete understanding of the views of the city. A ride lasts approximately 15 minutes and will include four revolutions. 

What is your role at your organisation?
My role is to promote the Wheel as a tourist destination, a place for locals to take in the sights of Brisbane, part of a day out with the kids, a venue for client entertainment, or a meeting place for pre-dinner drinks! This all needs to be provided in a safe environment ensuring that we provide an experience to remember. Given our location and exposure on the Brisbane skyline I also need to ensure that we engage with all stakeholders in the area that we occupy.

What are your key skills and responsibilities?
Nothing complicated really, we have to provide a safe and memorable experience for all our guests. This is achieved by maintaining high levels of customer engagement, training in all aspects of the operation and ensuring that the Wheel is operating safely and as designed. The Wheel after all is a fairly big piece of machinery!

How many people work at your business?
We have over 20 staff in our team. Operating a 12 hour business 365 days a year requires committed staff and we are proud to have that team. On a normal day we have 5 to 6 staff on shift at any time.

What is your favourite place in the precinct?
That is a difficult one! I live on the Gold Coast and so my weekly visits to the business entail spending a few nights in the hotels or apartments in the South Bank area. I like to mix it up a bit and I have been to most restaurants and stayed in most of the accommodation within the area. I think Brisbane and the precinct in general have a lot to offer in the evening and the cultural mix is always refreshing to absorb. I am not particularly good at planning my leisure time when in Brisbane so I make use of anywhere I can get in at last minute that has a cold beer or a glass of wine!

What do you want BSB members to know about you or your business?
That we are open to ideas on how we can work with partners in the area, to improve customers experiences as well as generate business and create opportunities that are not only good for the business but create a greater awareness of what is on offer in the precinct. We have a fantastic environment that is safe and diverse and needs to be shared with all visitors to the precinct, be they international and domestic tourists or Brisbane residents looking for something to do!

What is something people wouldn’t know about your business?
People often ask me how big the motors are to turn the Wheel. In actual fact there are two small motors on each side of the ring beam that turn the wheel. They act not only as motors to turn the Wheel, but also as brakes to slow it down. Whilst the motors do obviously turn the Wheel, a large portion of the energy is generated by gravity that creates the momentum for the Wheel to turn under low power. The correct loading of the Wheel is of paramount importance and is carried out by trained, skilled and certified operators.

What has recently happened at your organisation?
Towards the end of last year we installed a new platform and landing area. This has created a more efficient flow of guests and improved the look and feel of the space around the Wheel. The bright white LED lighting that is built into the platform provides a spectacular backdrop to the river at night. We have also recently partnered with Charming Squires to improve our On-Board Dining options. This enables us to offer light meals, host functions and create events and with our wine partners Sirromet, provides an improved experience and alternatives to corporates, event planners and conference organisers looking for something different.

What have you learnt lately?
That the travel industry must have more acronyms than any other industry in the world….famils, ITO, VFR, FIT, FOC…and the list goes on!

What do you hope to achieve in your industry?
I would like to see the Wheel moving from being a tourist destination to an integral part of the Brisbane entertainment scene. We are privileged to have tourists as the backbone of our business but the sooner we embrace the corporate and social community as a whole, the better we will become.
Tourists are becoming more savvy in their choice of destination and where they spend their money, so our challenges are to improve our value proposition and ensure that we meet and exceed their expectations.

What inspires you?
New ideas, the changing world, something from left field!

What are your words of wisdom?
You don’t know what you don’t know
Never close the open door in front of you!