Total Fitouts 2024 International Conference – Queenstown
We were thrilled this year to host our Total Fitouts International Conference in none other than the beautiful Queenstown, New Zealand. Over the course of the three days, the community were able to learn from industry experts and connect in one of the world’s most beautiful locations! The interactive event was designed to help our valued franchise partners connect, grow, network and to ‘thrive into 2025’.
DAY ONE
The Total Fitouts Conference kicked off with a check-in at 3 PM, where all the franchise partners community gathered to reconnect and receive their schedules for the upcoming days. The evening continued with the Snowboxx themed party at the Mountain Club, where everyone had a blast breaking the ice—literally and figuratively (there was an awesome ice sculpture at the party) —and set the stage for the exciting conference ahead.
DAY TWO
The second day of the Total Fitouts conference was where all the formative learning took place! Joel Ozborn masterfully MC’d the day bringing a good laugh throughout. His humour and enthusiasm significantly enhanced the event, making it a memorable experience for all. Abbas Nazari delivered an inspiring and touching talk. His insights on overcoming adversity and thriving in a new country left a profound impact on the Total Fitouts community.
We also captured some iconic community photos against stunning backdrops.
The conference day included a balanced business session with some of the Support Office staff and Jackson from The Insight Company, as well as a lively supplier showdown with BuildPass, BuildXact, and Benjamin & Benjamin – informing everyone on their great services. There was an insightful panel on high performance culture and a session on sales and design to round out a packed agenda.
The community had to create their own team names and compete in games throughout the day (in between sessions). We had Table 6 – Wild Stew – in the lead at the end of Day Two! The 8 teams carried through to the adventure day, where we waited to find out who took out the win at the end of the Day Three.
It was safe to say that the entire Total Fitouts community gained a wealth of knowledge from the Conference day, leaving everyone’s minds brimming with information. Everyone had a well-deserved night off before gearing up for Day Three’s adventure day!
DAY THREE
The third day of the Conference was an exhilarating conclusion to an already incredible event. The day began with an adventure-packed excursion where attendees boarded a bus to The Playground. In teams—formed the previous day—everyone rotated through four exciting activities: human foosball, paintball targets & paintball slingshot, archery, and the human slingshot. Each activity brought its own unique thrill, setting the tone for an action-filled day.
After the adrenaline-pumping activities, the group enjoyed lunch at The Kinross Winery. The picturesque setting offered not only an amazing meal but also breathtaking views, making it a memorable dining experience.
The afternoon continued with a visit to the Luge, where everyone took gondolas up the hill—a highlight for many. The descent was a perfect blend of fun and scenic beauty, providing a fitting adventure to cap off the day’s activities.
As evening fell, everyone donned their best outfits for the final party: a college frat-themed bash. The event featured games, karaoke, and American-style food, perfectly matching the party’s theme and ensuring a lively and entertaining conclusion to the conference.
The winning team from the last two days was also announced at the college frat party! Congratulations to Team 8 – Raygun (Total Fitouts Surry Hills and Parramatta)!
Overall, the conference was a tremendous success for the Total Fitouts community, offering valuable insights for their business while also fostering meaningful connections and relationships.
Watch our summary video to get a feel for the epic three days at the International Conference!
TIACS x TradeMutt
Total Fitouts was proud to support TIACS and TradeMutt at our International Queenstown Conference for 2024!
During the three-day conference, we employed various methods to raise funds with a specific target in mind, with all the proceeds going to TIACS x TradeMutt, dedicated to supporting mental health for tradies. If we met this goal, 5 corporate staff members and a Franchise Director (Ross from Brisbane Inner North) pledged to shave their heads in honour of achieving the charity’s fundraising objective.
One of the methods was fining our Total Fitouts Directors throughout the conference day. Some of the fines included using a phone during a session, turning up late, not wearing a Total Fitouts shirt to the Conference day etc. One of the most popular fines was the Buffalo drinking game (if you know, you know)! This fine fit our community culture well and was a great way for everyone to get around raising money for a good cause.
Another method was on the Adventure Day during the Kinross Winery lunch, we had some bidding for certain items and deals to help further raise money. Some Franchise Partner also made standard donations to further add to the charity’s fundraising objective.
In the end, Total Fitouts was able to raise over $6,200 to go towards TIACS X TradeMutt tradies mental health! As a result, there were 6 shaved heads at our Frat Party on the final night.
This cause is very meaningful to Total Fitouts in the commercial fitout industry, where the well-being of our workforce is crucial. From the labourers to the site supervisors, the Total Fitouts community is committed to ensuring that everyone understands the importance of mental health and where to reach out.
By promoting TIACS x TradeMutt, we aimed to raise awareness and contribute to essential programs and resources that support the mental health of those in the trades community. Our industry involves high-pressure environments and demanding schedules, making mental health support all the more vital.
Thank you to all our Directors who participated and contributed to this important cause. Well done to all involved!
Suppliers
At this year’s Total Fitouts International Conference, we had 3 key suppliers, BuildPass, Benjamin & Benjamin Insurance Group and BuildXact. This was a great opportunity for our Franchise Partners to nurture and grow relevant relationships with each supplier.
Gold Sponsor
BuildPass is an AI powered software platform helping create safer, more efficient construction sites within one easy-to-use hub. Through the web-based app you can
-digitise site processes with ease
-help remove manual tasks
-enhance safety systems
-give your team greater visibility to the status of every project you run, both on and off-site.
From managing SWMS, insurances and inductions to tracking defects and assigning subcontractors follow up actions – BuildPass provides you with an all-encompassing toolkit to optimise your projects.
Special thanks to Sam and Matt from BuildPass for flying out to join us. Their presence and insights made a real impact within our Total Fitouts community, and we’re excited to continue building a safer, smarter future together!
Silver Sponsor
Benjamin and Benjamin Insurance Group excel in providing tailored insurance solutions for businesses with turnovers between $1 million and $100 million across various industries, as well as for individuals with personal assets exceeding $3 million. Their expertise ensures that your business and personal assets are protected with comprehensive and customised coverage.
Special thanks to Nate from the Benjamin and Benjamin team for flying out to join us. Your presence and insights were greatly appreciated within our Total Fitouts community, and we’re excited to continue building strong partnerships together!
Bronze Sponsor
BuildXact simplifies the building process with features that save time on job estimates and enable 24/7 material ordering through integrated member price lists. Founded in 2011 in Australia and now with North American headquarters in Austin, Texas, Buildxact continues to grow its global reach, serving customers across the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
Special thanks to Mark from Buildxact for flying out to join us. Your presence and insights made a real impact within our Total Fitouts community, and we’re excited to continue building stronger, more efficient businesses together!
Thank you to everyone who made it out for the International Conference! Until next year!
