Laurie Daley’s 2014 NSW VB Blues called the Novotel Coffs Harbour Pacific Bay Resort home during their triumphant State of Origin campaign and the rewards continue to flow for the team behind Camp Blue.
Jodie Evans – Executive Assistant Manager and Director of Sales and Marketing at Novotel Pacific Bay – was instrumental in getting the NSW VB Blues to set up base in Coffs Harbour. Her vision and tireless work with Daley and NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden ensure the best of preparations for captain Paul Gallen and his side. Now the Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce has seen fit to recognise Jodie with the Business Leader of The Year award as well as the Marketing and Advertising award at their annual Sunny’s Business Awards.
“Having the NSW VB Blues at Novotel Pacific Bay Resort was a fantastic experience,” said Jodie Evans.
“Laurie and his team were wonderful to deal with and the extensive media coverage put us back on the map. The interest after the NSW VB Blues won has been amazing. Teams from throughout Australia are now contacting us because they’ve seen the facilities and experience we can provide.
“The flow-on effect from their series win is everyone associates with Coffs Harbour and Novotel Pacific Bay Resort.”
For NSW VB Blues coach Laurie Daley it was important to find a base that ‘ticked all the boxes’ when fine tuning some of the best athletes in the world ahead of what is considered the toughest challenge in rugby league.
The facilities available at the Elite Training Centre, including private world class training field, gymnasium and meetings rooms together with lap pools and luxury accommodation provided the perfect base for the NSW BV Blues.
“Laurie had a wish list for the NSW VB Blues and their preparation for the series and Jodie and her team ensured we were able to tick all the boxes at the Novotel Pacific Bay Resort,” said NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden.
“We adopted significant changes and a new strategic approach as part of our BLUEPRINT for the future of the NSWRL and the success of the NSW VB Blues is playing a crucial role in allowing us to build for success on and off the field. Setting up base at Coffs Harbour is part of the professionalism we want to portray as an organisation. 2014 was part of a new beginning for the NSWRL and NSW VB Blues and there are even more exciting times ahead for our wonderful supporters.”