Under the deal, QPAC says Macquarie’s dedicated virtualized solution will enable it to manage expected peaks in online traffic to its ticketing system, qtix, as well as ensure one hundred per cent availability for website visitors.
 
Chris Holder, Information Services Manager at QPAC says that, in the future, the system will seamlessly link concert and theatre tickets with flights, accommodation, merchandise and restaurant bookings for customers.
 
Holder said Macquarie Hosting, a division of Macquarie Telecom, was awarded the contract following a competitive tender of managed hosting providers.

“This is the first time QPAC has outsourced its hosting requirements having previously managed all systems in-house.

“Macquarie was selected for its proven experience with online, digital media and travel companies as well as its specialisation in the design and implementation of complex managed-virtualized hosting environments.

“In our highly competitive industry you need to deliver a standout experience for customers, first time, every time, whilst ensuring the highest levels of data security.”
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QPAC says its growth strategy aims to position QPAC alongside other leaders in the market including Ticketek, and that it will build on the organisation’s recent $34.7 million refurbishment of the venue adding greater flexibility and deliverability of commercial solutions.

Located in Brisbane, QPAC hosts local and international performances including the Paris Opera Ballet, Australian Chamber Orchestra and Queensland Ballet, and typically converts over 60 per cent of online bookings per day.

According to Holder, customers constantly demand new and exciting offers with everything in one simple package, and, he said, through the Macquarie Hosting solution “we have achieved a far quicker time to market for our new offers and online ticketing applications. Macquarie clearly demonstrated a deep understanding of our business and the critical nature of the online channel to our success.”

Spread across multiple virtual and dedicated VMWare hosts, Holder says QPAC’s mission-critical applications will be housed in Macquarie Hosting’s ISO and DSD Gateway certified data centre, the Intellicentre.

Holder says that specialised services including SSL load-balancing will ensure QPAC can manage growing peaks in traffic to its ticketing site while tape back-up and redundant firewalls offer added security and redundancy.

The deal with Macquarie, says Holder, also includes a comprehensive disaster recovery solution that will give QPAC the “reliability essential to guarantee its ticket sales and build its reputation in the market both locally and internationally.”