It’s our annual food and beverage issue, and our feature on event culinary trends highlights the creative, out-of-the-box thinking that is redefining the contemporary delegate experience.

Our cover story features Aanuka Beach House in Coffs Harbour, on the NSW North Coast, which has undergone a $5 million transformation that has turned the idyllic and inviting coastal retreat into an unforgettable hospitality destination for travellers and business events.

Spice’s annual Hot 100 hotels and venues is also back for another year, and our readers have voted on the class of 2025. Following a huge response to our survey of the most outstanding events spaces across Australia and New Zealand – including convention centres, stadiums, hotels, bars and restaurants – we present the joint-winners in each of the 20 categories.

Also in this issue are the best winter restaurants and bars for comfort dining; expert guidance on unleashing human potential with AI; a spotlight on how best to attract the events industry’s stars of tomorrow; a look back at AIME 2025 and the Ideas Academy presented by Spice; and a look forward to the 10th edition of Events Uncovered presented by Spice.

We also visit Melbourne and Alice Springs to reveal the venues, hotels and experiences that should be on event planners’ radar.

To read the Winter 2025 issue of Spice, click here.